OBC NON CREAMY LAYER CERTIFICATE
The main guidelines for issuing obc non-creamy layer certificate are:
💧If the parents of the applicants are central/state government officials, their job positions at the time of joining government service determine the consideration for their children. The "creamy layer" includes those directly appointed to Group A and B positions.
💧Individuals who directly joined Class 2/Group B positions and later moved up to Class 1/Group A before turning 35 fall under the creamy layer. However, those starting from Class 3/Group C or Class 4/Group D and moving up before 35 are not considered creamy layer.
💧For Class 2/Group B positions, both parents must hold such appointments for the applicant to be considered.
💧If both parents were directly appointed to Class I/Group A positions and have either passed away or suffered permanent disability, their children will not be considered part of the creamy layer.
💧For O.B.C individuals, even if a woman from category C marries a Class I officer, she remains outside the creamy layer category.
💧Even if the mentioned employees, or one of them, pass away after retirement or due to permanent disability, their children won't qualify for reservation benefits. They will remain ineligible and within the creamy layer.
💧Individuals within the creamy layer will be eligible for reservation benefits and will retain their creamy layer status even post-retirement or in the event of their demise.
💧Income derived from agriculture will be excluded when determining the creamy layer limit. The decisive factor will be the extent of land owned by the individual, excluding coffee, rubber, and tea plantations. Individuals owning five hectares or more of land fall within the creamy layer limit, based on the criteria outlined in the Land Ceiling Act. The issuance of non-creamy layer certificates should not be denied on the basis of combining salary and agricultural income, provided that the combined income does not exceed Rs 8 lakh. If the separate income from salary and agriculture of the applicant's parents exceeds Rs 8 lakh, or if their other sources of income (such as business or rental) are below Rs 8 lakh, they will qualify for reservation benefits and can obtain a non-creamy layer certificate.
💧The annual income assessment encompasses professionals like lawyers, chartered accountants, film stars, sports personalities, authors, individuals in business and industry, as well as those earning from properties and buildings within city limits. Such income should be consistent over three consecutive years.
A person from a backward caste, living within their community's clan, is not considered part of the creamy layer category, regardless of their income. Illiteracy, defined as not having passed Class 4, exempts individuals from the creamy layer category, even if they belong to a backward class.
Reservation and benefits in education, particularly for communities listed under Socially and Educationally Backward Communities (S.E.B.), are granted based on income rather than the creamy layer criteria. When calculating income, salaries and agricultural earnings are included.
However, as of January 1, 2015, the government has decided to use the creamy layer criteria for reservation in professional degree courses for backward communities in the state. Accordingly, individuals from the creamy layer (upper tier) of C category communities under S.E.B. are ineligible for reservation in professional degree courses.
To learn more:
Creamy Layer – Backward Classes Development Department (kerala.gov.in)
Article By: Mujeebulla K.M
CIGI Career Team