The census of 2001 lists the SC population in Chandigarh at 17.5 per cent. While the Government of India’s instructions issued on November 18, 1982 say that SC certificates can be issued to migrants, the instructions do not address the matter of the issuance of SC certificates to future generations of the migrants.

A section of SC migrants did not get caste certificate from their state of origin at the initial stage of their migration or thereafter.

Now, these migrants, who have settled in Chandigarh for more than 30 years, are unable to get proof of residence from their state of origin, as they have severed links with it.

The SC certificate issue became one of the most important issues during the recent Lok Sabha elections, when all the political parties slammed the Administration for not doing enough for the SC population.