Why Do Companies Require All Educational Certificates Even for Graduates?

Dear All, Many companies ask for SSC and HSC mark sheets even if the candidate is a graduate. Can't we just ask for the graduation mark sheet directly if the candidate is a graduate? Is there any specific reason for asking for all the educational qualification certificates? Also, if a person is a postgraduate, can't we straight away take that one document? Does there exist any mandatory rule that one needs to have all the educational qualification certificates of the employees in the HR file?

The primary reason why SSC/HSC certificates are also insisted upon is for proof of the date of birth. Legally, the X Class certificate (or rather the School Leaving certificate) is considered the most authentic proof for the date of birth for any person for two reasons:

1) Earlier, most often no one used to have a Birth Certificate (though nowadays this trend is changing).
2) In India, even if someone has a Birth Certificate, most often, the name wouldn't be there in it (since, as per Indian culture/practices, a child is named a few days/weeks/months after birth).

Hope this clarifies.

Regards,
TS

Thanks, TS. So, that means if a company is directly asking for an SSC mark sheet or birth certificate copy for proof of date of birth, and if the individual is a graduate, then only the graduation certificate is required. If the individual is a postgraduate, then only the postgraduate certificate is needed. This practice is not doing anything wrong.