(1) The CornpetentAuthority, on receipt of an application made to him under Rule 3 and after satisfying himself about the genuineness of the claim and following the due process, shall, either issue a Caste Certificate in Form B or reject the claim within thirty days of the date of receipt of the application, excluding the time taken for compliance of objections, if any.
(2) The verification shall be made basing upon revenue records and other relevant documents furnished by the applicant and if required, supported through reliable field enquiries and the Caste Certificate shall not be denied to a deserving landless person if otherwise, through such inquiry, it is found that the applicant belongs to any reserved category and in such case, the applicant shall be given a date for personal appearance by the Competent Authority for recording his statement.
(3) In case of applicants who either do not have, or have not furnished, documentary evidence with the application or later on call in support of the claims, such applications shall be disposed of by conducting field enquiry by the CompetentAuthority.
(4) The field enquiry report shall be prepared in the shape of a memorandum by the officers who visited the field in the presence of at least two witnesses along with the applicant or his family members or representative and such report shall be clear, specific and speak about the findings pertaining to the claim of the applicant belonging to any reserved category.
(5) The Competent Authority shall dispose of the matter:within thirty days of receipt of the application, excluding the time taken for compliances of the objections, if any, and a reasoned order of the Competent Authority shall be kept with the case record, both in case of grant of certificate or rejection of the claim, for future references.
(6) In case of failure to issue a Caste Certificate or to dispose of the application otherwise by passing appropriate orders within the stipulated time, the. Competent Authority shall record in the order.sheet of the case record, the reasons for such non- disposal of the application within the stipulated time.