JOIN USK Lakshman had lodged a complaint with the Shimoga District Commissioner of Social Welfare against the MLA in 2008, saying that he belonged to Namadhari Vokkaliga community. But he was issued a certificate saying that he belonged to Bhovi community during the elections, and his complaint was dismissed.
Lakshman approached the Appellate Authority of the Social Welfare Department, following which the Appellate Authority cancelled the caste certificate and further directed the tahsildar to conduct an inquiry and issue the caste certificate, in March 2008.
MLA Kumaraswamy challenged the order in the High Court. His contention was that he had sought the caste certificate for election purpose and not for employment or education purpose and hence the Commissioner had no authority to cancel the certificate. Justice Ajit K Gunjal on Monday, took cognisance of the petitioner’s plea that the MLA’s brothers had taken certificates claiming that they belonged to the Vokkaliga community, but Kumaraswamy obtained a fake certificate to contest elections.
The Court has upheld the cancellation of the certificate and has also directed the tahsildar to conduct a fresh inquiry.
Cave renovation
The High Court refused to vacate a stay on the renovation works being undertaken at the Bababudangiri cave. The division bench comprising Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar termed it as a sensitive issue, pending before the Supreme Court.
The petitioners, S R Mukthiar Ahmed and G C Chandrappa had contended that the structure of the cave was being changed on the pretext of renovation.
In December 2008, the court had directed the government to maintain status quo until the matter was settled in the Supreme Court. The petitioners had alleged that the renovation work was in violation of the Court order.