Caste cert deadline for netas extended again

MUMBAI: Alarmed by the possibility of disqualification of a large number of backward class elected representatives owing to doubts over validity of caste certificates, the urban development department led by CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday ensured the deadline for them to produce a validity certificate from the caste scrutiny committee was extended by a year. It had been recently extended by six months; now netas will get another six months for submission.

The legislative assembly on Monday passed a bill that will ensure elected representatives who have already obtained their caste certificate and validity certificate would not get disqualified merely because of failure to produce the caste validity certificate issued by the scrutiny committee in time. Every candidate or elected representative has to furnish the undertaking that he would obtain and produce the caste validity certificate issued by the scrutiny committee over and above the caste and validity certificates obtained from local authorities. The certificate is to be submitted to the Election Commission.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act and Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Township Act allow candidates to submit a true copy of the application given to the scrutiny committee for issuance of validity certificate, along with nomination papers. Most of the candidates belonging to SC, ST or other backward classes have to submit the certificates within six months of their election.

The relevant sections of these Acts now stand amended. The bill was passed unanimously without debate. “Since there has been a huge pendency as CSC (caste scrutiny committee) is overburdened with the task of issuing validity certificate, which has resulted in difficulties for the elected candidates to obtain the caste validity certificate (CVC), it was considered expedient to provide for further extension of six months to the elected candidates for submitting such certificates,” said the copy of the statement of objects and reasons.

Elections nationally and in the state are due next year, and candidates may also need support of elected representatives in local self-governing bodies during campaigns.