Section 8A in The West Bengal Scheduled Castes And Scheduled Tribes (Identification) Act, 1994
8A. [ Constitution of State Scrutiny Committee and its powers. [Sections 8A and 8B inserted by W.B. Act 4 of 2007.]
(1)The State Government may, by order, constitute a Committee to be called the State Scrutiny Committee for verification of social status of a person [in whose favour a certificate is issued under section 5 including a case where a caste certificate has been cancelled, impounded or revoked by the issuing authority under section 9].(2)The Committee shall consist of the following Members :(a)the Secretary, Backward Classes Welfare Chairperson;Department, Government of West Bengal.Explanation. - Secretary shall include a Special Secretary.(b)the Commissioner, Directorate of Backward, Convenor :Classes Welfare, West Bengal or any officer not below the rank of Deputy Director, duly authorised by him.(c)the Director, Cultural Research Institute, Expert Member, Backward Classes Welfare Department or any officer not below the rank of Deputy Director, duly authorised by him.(3)Subject to any general or special order of the State Government, provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder, the Committee shall have powers -(a)to verify the social status of a person in whose favour [a certificate is issued under section 5 including a case where a caste certificate has been cancelled, impounded or revoked by the issuing authority under section 9] [Substituted 'in whose favour a certificate is issued under section 5' by West Bengal Act No. 35 of 2017, dated 15.9.2017.];(b)to issue directions to the Vigilance Cell constituted under section 8B;(c)[ on its own or on receipt of information, to make an inquiry in connection with the contravention of any provision of this Act including any act of contravention by the issuing authority in respect of issuing, rejecting or cancelling caste certificate;] [Substituted 'in whose favour a certificate is issued under section 5' by West Bengal Act No. 35 of 2017, dated 15.9.2017.](d)to issue notice to any person or authority in such manner as may be prescribed;(e)to call for information from any person or authority for the purpose of satisfying itself whether there has been any contravention of any provision of this Act or any rule or order made or direction issued thereunder;(f)to require any person or authority to produce or deliver any document or thing useful or relevant to the inquiry;(g)to examine any person acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case;(h)to issue direction under sub-section (2) of section 9 to the certificate issuing authority;(i)to do such other things and perform such other acts not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as may appear to be necessary or expedient for the proper conduct of its function, or which may be prescribed.(4)The Committee shall meet at such place and time, and the meeting shall be conducted in such manner, as may be prescribed.(5)All orders or directions of the Committee shall be authenticated by the Chairperson or by such officer of the Committee as may be authorised by the Chairperson on this behalf.]
