Karnataka - Bangalore   

Caste certificate of MLA cancelled

Bangalore: In a verdict that could have deep political implications, the Commissioner of the Social Welfare Department has cancelled the caste validity certificate of K.G. Kumaraswamy, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA for the reserved constituency of Shimoga (Rural).

The MLA contested the elections claiming to belong to the Bhovi caste (SC). He defeated his nearest rival K.T. Karianna of the Congress.

In his order on Thursday, Social Welfare Commissioner Baburao Mudabi directed the Deputy Commissioner of Shimoga to file a report after verifying the records pertaining to the MLA’s caste at the native place within two months.

Mr. Kumaraswamy may lose his membership in the Assembly if it is proved that he does not belong to the Bhovi community.

The documents produced before the commissioner showed the MLA’s caste as “Hindu Mula Namadhari” (a sect of the Vokkaliga community, which comes under III A of backward classes list) in the admission form issued by the higher secondary school at Konandur in Shimoga district.

In the transfer certificate of the senior primary school, Konandur, it is stated “No” against the question as to whether he belongs to any Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.

It says that he had paid the school fees.

Documents produced before the commissioner also show that some of his close relatives, including his brother K.G. Somashekhar, have called themselves “Vokkaligas” in their school documents.

The name of Mr. Kumaraswamy’s father is registered as K. Gangappa in the earlier documents, but as K. Gangappa Bhovi in later ones.

A petition challenging the claim of Mr. Kumaraswamy that he belongs to the Bhovi community is pending in the High Court.

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