RTI forum applauds illegal certificate issuance

Tammana Tamang

Gangtok March 19: Residential certificates in the east district are being issued without following the norms a Sikkim based Non Governmental organization has claimed. The NGO Sikkim RTI forum claimed that the local officers responsible for delivering the certificates have been neglecting the mandate process.

“The certificates are being issued without any clearance from the police and the Information Bureau. Both the verification is a must before issuing the certificate. Authentic documents are also not required while applying for the certificates. A RTI reply from the department to us says that a certificate has been issued merely on the basis of voter identity card which is a complete violation of the norms laid by the state government,” D.K. Chettri, the general secretary of the forum told a press conference here today.

The forum has sought intervention from the Chief Minister immediately. “We have requested the Chief Minister to cancel those certificates that has been obtained without residential proof prior from 1975. Ultimately such practices will allow the non-sikkimese to settle down permanently,” said Chettri.

Despite the state government has already issued the notification for the issue of residential certificates, the forum now wants a proper format for the same. The forum will soon meet the Chief Minister and apprise him regarding the matter.

A residential certificate in Sikkim facilitates a person to buy or sell properties for those who are not sikkimese. A person can also start his own business if the same is obtained. In general non-sikkimese are not allowed to buy or sell any property nor start a business.