Bhubaneswar, Oct 3: In a decisive move to address the growing number of fake caste certificate cases across the state, the Odisha government has constituted three state-level inquiry committees, one for each revenue division.

These committees will be headed by the respective Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), who will oversee the investigation and resolution of such cases.

Since the inception of the initiative, a total of 309 cases have been registered across the divisions. Of these, 161 cases have been resolved, while 148 remain pending. Additionally, around 65 related writ petitions are currently under judicial review in the Odisha High Court.

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To ensure timely legal compliance, authorities have emphasised the need for submitting time-bound instructions, Preliminary Written Communications (PWCs), and counter-affidavits in connection with the pending writ petitions.

In a further step to streamline the legal process, the government has directed the appointment of a dedicated legal officer at the FCC Cell of the RDC office in Cuttack.

The move is seen as part of a broader effort to uphold transparency and accountability in the issuance of caste certificates and to prevent misuse of social welfare benefits.