Religious heads can't certify minority status

Kochi: The High Court on Wednesday ruled that a certificate issued by a government agency is mandatory for getting admissions to self-financing institutions under the minority category.

The certificates issued by heads of religious and community institutions will not be sufficient for authenticating the minority status of the person seeking admissions under reservation, the court said.

The court passed the verdict, having far-reaching consequences, while rejecting the petitions filed by a few students and the managements of Karuna and Travancore medical colleges.

The court stated that persons who have gained admissions without the certificate of the revenue authorities by producing the certificates issued by religious and community institutions should procure certificates from the revenue officials concerned.

The court also observed that within the quota of minority reservation, no other sub-quota will be allowed.