Fort St. George, the seat of Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly and Secretariat
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
The Tamil Nadu government has instructed all District Collectors to identify and cancel Scheduled Tribe (ST) community certificates issued to persons belonging to the Kanikkaran/Kanikkar community outside the areas where the community is recognised under the State’s Scheduled Tribes list.
In a communication, N. Subbaiyan, Secretary, Department of Social Justice, pointed out the Kanikkaran/Kanikkar community has been notified as a Scheduled Tribe in Kanniyakumari district and Shencottai and Ambasamudram taluks of Tenkasi district. Accordingly, ST community certificates should be issued only to persons from these areas.
However, based on information furnished by the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency, a total of 954 ST community certificates in the names of Kanikkaran/Kanikkar were issued online in Chengalpattu, Chennai, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tiruvarur, and Vellore districts between January 1, 2018, and May 26, 2026, he said.
According to a Government Order issued in this regard in 2005, the competent authority to issue SC/ST certificates should be the one concerned with the locality in which the person applying for the certificate had his/her place of permanent abode at the time of the notification of the relevant Presidential Order. Thus, the Revenue Authority of one district would not be competent to issue such a certificate in respect of persons belonging to another district.
In a separate communication to all District Collectors, Mr. Subbaiyan directed them to ensure the speedy issuance of community certificates to SC/ST applicants.
He said complaints had been received regarding delays in the issuance of community certificates to SC/ST applicants. As per the provisions of the Manual for Issuance and Verification of Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Community Certificates, community certificates for SC applicants should be issued by the Tahsildar within two days, while community certificates for ST applicants should be issued by the Revenue Divisional Officer within one week.
If detailed verification is required, the application should be processed within 15 days, and the applicant should be informed accordingly, he said in the communication, while instructing District Collectors to issue necessary directions to the officials concerned.
Published – July 24, 2026 03:48 pm IST
