Maharashtra flags 719 employees for alleged fake disability certificates

The Maharashtra government has received complaints against 719 employees for allegedly using fake disability certificates to avail benefits under various schemes Minister Atul Save informed the legislative assembly on Tuesday reported news agency PTIThe divyang welfare minister said that verification of disability certificates has been made mandatory following directions issued by the Centre and the state department and strict action will be taken in case of irregularitiesThe government has received complaints against as many as 719 government employees for allegedly using fake disability certificates to avail benefits under various schemes he said while responding to a question raised by NCP SP MLA Bapu Pathare reported PTISave said that complaints were filed against 78 employees in Satara 46 in Pune and 26 in LaturIn Pune district 21 employees have been suspended from their posts for submitting fake certificates and two were removed in Nandurbar he informed the HouseAs per government instructions employees whose certificates are found to be fake or whose disability is assessed at less than 40 per cent will face action under Section 11 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 along with disciplinary proceedings reported PTIThe minister said that a government resolution issued on October 9 directed all departments to complete verification of disability certificates and submit detailed reports within three months by January 8 2026 reported PTISo far complaints related to fake UDID certificates have been received against 719 employees and the concerned departments have been instructed to verify the cases and initiate action as per rules he saidOnly those with benchmark disabilities of 40 per cent or more are eligible to avail benefits such as reservation in government jobs promotions and other schemes the minister addedOppn leaders stage protest on Vidhan Bhavan steps over farmers issuesMeanwhile Opposition members staged a protest on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan in Nagpur on Tuesday the second day of the Maharashtra assemblys winter session demanding a complete loan waiver for farmersLeaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi including Congresss Vijay Wadettiwar Shiv Sena UBT MLA Aditya Thackeray NCP SP Shashikant Shinde among others gathered on the steps of the Vidhan Bhawan and raised slogansOpposition leaders accused the government of delaying the purchase of soyabean which resulted in farmers selling the produce at Rs 4000 well below the MSP of Rs 5328They demanded a complete loan waiver for cultivators who had suffered lossesWith inputs from PTI