Jacob Khaling Rejects CAP Allegations Over BL-Reserved MBBS Seat
Jacob Khaling Rejects CAP Allegations Over BL-Reserved MBBS Seat
Gangtok, Sep 13 : Jacob Khaling, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, has rejected allegations attributed to the Citizens Action Party (CAP) over the allotment of an MBBS seat reserved for the Bhutia-Lepcha (BL) community, saying official documents establish the student’s Bhutia identity.
In a press release, Khaling said questions surrounding the allotment to Chanana Lama appeared to centre on her surname. He argued that a surname alone was insufficient to determine a person’s community identity and urged those disputing her eligibility to approach the competent authorities with evidence.
Khaling Cites Community and Family Records
According to Khaling, a Scheduled Tribe certificate issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Rabongla, in March 2025 records the student as belonging to the Bhutia community. He said her father also holds relevant community documentation.
Khaling further stated that a Certificate of Identification issued by the District Collector, Namchi, traces the family’s lineage to the old Sikkim Subject Register, where family members are recorded under the Bhutia identity.
He also referred to a notarised affidavit dated June 9, 2013, in which the student’s father, Gopal Lama, declared that Gopal Lama and Gopal Bhutia were the same person. According to the release, the affidavit identifies his parents as members of the Bhutia community and states that he would use the name Gopal Lama (Bhutia) in official correspondence.
Khaling maintained that these records predated the present controversy and supported the family’s community identity.
‘A Surname Cannot Determine a Person’s Community’
Rejecting what he described as assumptions based on the surname “Lama,” Khaling said community identity must be examined through family lineage, official records and certificates issued by the appropriate authorities.
He cited Victoria Cross recipient Ganju Lama as an example of a person from the Bhutia community carrying the Lama surname.
“A surname does not, by itself, determine a person’s tribal identity,” Khaling said.
Calls for Scrutiny Through Competent Authorities
Khaling said concerns about the validity of a Scheduled Tribe certificate or Certificate of Identification should be submitted to the authorities responsible for examining such records.
He urged CAP to produce any evidence supporting its allegations, seek an inquiry and, if necessary, pursue the matter before the appropriate judicial forum.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s Madhuri Patil judgment on caste and tribe certificate verification, Khaling argued that disputed claims should be examined through established scrutiny procedures.
He added that discrepancies in dates or details, if any, should be investigated and explained, rather than treated as automatic proof of fraud or ineligibility.
Appeals for Restraint and Social Harmony
Khaling expressed concern over the public discussion of the student and her family’s identity, saying political scrutiny should not undermine an individual’s dignity without an official finding of wrongdoing.
He acknowledged the opposition’s right to question the government and demand accountability but said allegations involving community reservation required careful verification.
Khaling also called for genuine concerns about reservation to be investigated, maintaining that any wrongdoing should face action under the law.
“Sikkim’s peace and social harmony are far more valuable than any momentary political advantage,” he said, appealing to political parties to exercise restraint.
The certificates, affidavit and allotment records cited by Khaling were not independently verified for this report. CAP’s original statements and its response to Khaling’s release were not available in the material provided.
