WBPSC Certificate Fraud: Fake ST Certificate for a Govt Job? PSC Takes Strict Action, Details Inside

WBPSC Certificate Fraud: The Public Service Commission, West Bengal (PSCWB) has made a significant announcement. The candidature of three aspirants who had qualified for the Miscellaneous Services Recruitment (Final) Examination, 2023 (ADVERTISEMENT NO. 11/2023), has been cancelled. They face serious allegations of submitting fraudulent documents to claim Scheduled Tribe (ST) category status. This strict action by the Commission serves as a cautionary tale for aspirants across the state.

What Exactly Happened?

According to a notification (NO.- 147-PSC/CON) released on August 18, 2025, the Commission revealed that three candidates—Shri Santu Pan (Roll No 1112711), Shri Debabrata Paul (Roll No 1515271), and Shri Rahul Mahato (Roll No 1711667)—do not belong to the ST category as they had claimed. The issue surfaced after these candidates had already qualified for the final stage of the recruitment examination.

The Commission’s Investigation and Action

Upon discovering the discrepancy, the Commission launched an internal investigation. The findings were startling:

• Shri Santu Pan and Shri Debabrata Paul: The Commission attempted to contact them via e-mail, but neither candidate responded. Further investigation revealed that for the certificate number provided by Shri Santu Pan, no data or image was found on the official portal of the Backward Classes Welfare Department. In the case of Shri Debabrata Paul, the certificate data was similar, but it showed OBC instead of ST in the portal, which appeared to be fabricated.
• Shri Rahul Mahato: This candidate admitted his fault. When contacted, he informed the Commission via e-mail that he had made a false statement regarding his caste and qualification.

Based on this evidence and confession, the Commission ordered the immediate cancellation of the candidature of all three individuals.

A Warning for Other Candidates

This incident is a major warning for all government job aspirants. In the current digital age, verifying information has become much easier. Modern systems, like the government portal used for verification, can easily detect such fraud. The consequences of submitting false or forged documents can be severe:

• Permanent Disqualification: A candidate can be debarred permanently, not just from the specific exam, but from all future government recruitment examinations.
• Legal Action: Forgery can lead to strict legal action under the Indian Penal Code, potentially resulting in imprisonment or fines.
• Career Damage: Once a candidate’s name is associated with such fraudulent activities, it leaves a permanent stain on their future career prospects.

Therefore, it is crucial to double-check all information and documents before applying. Honesty and transparency are the only right paths to securing a government job. This action by the Commission proves their commitment to maintaining integrity in the recruitment process.