The District Project Office in Jagatsinghpur terminated a Sikshya Sahayak under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) after the district administration cancelled his Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate following a detailed inquiry.
Officials confirmed that Susanta Kumar Mandal, a resident of Goda (Bhajakhia) under Erasama block, secured an appointment in 2007 under the SC reserved category based on a certificate issued during the 2006 recruitment process. He had been serving as an untrained teacher at B.B. Government High School, Goda, since then.
The matter reached the Orissa High Court in W.P.(C) No. 37762 of 2025, prompting the Collector-cum-Chief Executive Officer to re-examine Mandal’s caste status. After providing an opportunity of hearing to all concerned parties, the Collector concluded that Mandal belongs to the “Tanti” community and not the “Pana Tanti” category listed under the Scheduled Castes in Odisha.
Based on this finding, the Collector cancelled the earlier certificate on May 14, 2026, and directed the District Project Office to take necessary action. The office subsequently declared Mandal’s engagement invalid and terminated his service with immediate effect.
Authorities stated that the appointment under a false caste claim amounted to misrepresentation and violation of eligibility norms.
