The High Court on Thursday directed the Shimoga Tahsildar to take suitable action and submit a report in four months with regard to the fake caste certificate submitted by former legislator K G Kumaraswamy during 2008 Assembly elections.
Taking a stern view of Kumaraswamy’s action, the court observed that submitting fake certificate was nothing but cheating the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. The petitioner, B T Thimmaiah, alleged that Kumaraswamy had submitted a caste certificate, claiming he belonged to the Bhovi community of Scheduled Castes, despite him being a Vokkaliga.
The Shimoga Tahsildar had issued the certificate to Kumaraswamy in 2001. This was certified by the Deputy Commissioner in 2002. Thimmaiah approached the High Court, challenging the DC’s certification.
The court directed the Department of Social Welfare to inquire into the matter. The Department subsequently directed the tahsildar to take action against Kumaraswamy but the latter challenged it in the High Court.
Although the court upheld the order of the Department, Kumaraswamy submitted the caste certificate during 2008 Assembly elections and won from Shimoga Rural constituency.
Thimmaiah once again approached the High Court, alleging that Kumaraswamy had committed a crime by submitting a false caste certificate and availing of the benefits.
Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri directed the tahsildar to look into the benefits Kumaraswamy availed of under the Scheduled Caste quota.