Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16: The Orissa cabinet today made it clear that anyone issuing a fake caste certificate would be liable to rigorous imprisonment and a fine amount ranging between Rs 2,000 and Rs 20,000. The accused can be jailed for six months to two years.

The government also said the issuing authority “will not be punished if he has issued the certificate not intentionally or deliberately”. A person who gets a certificate on the basis of false information will also be punished under the law.

A bill to this effect will be brought in the Assembly, which will start its monsoon session tomorrow.

The issue of fake caste certificates had been dogged in controversies as there were allegations that public representatives, especially MLAs, had been issuing certificates without proper verification. The MLAs, on the other hand, were asking for powers, so that they could direct the administration to help them verify the documents.

Apart from the caste certificate issue, the cabinet also gave its nod to extend tenure of the cooperative societies from four years to five years.

Chief secretary Bijay Patnaik said: “The amendment to the Orissa SC/ST and Backward Classes Regulation of Issuance and Verification of Caste Certificate Bill today got clearance from the cabinet. The competent authority will issue the certificate. The rules, later framed under the Act, will decide who are the competent authorities to issue the certificate.”

Earlier, apart from tehsildars, the MLAs had been entrusted with the power to issue caste certificates.

While officials are held responsible for issuing fake certificates, the MLAs show no accountability.