In a relief to Lok Sabha MP Navneet Kaur Rana, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Bombay High Court verdict cancelling the caste certificate of the independent lawmaker representing Maharashtra's Amravati constituency, reserved for scheduled castes. The Bombay High Court had on June 9 cancelled the caste certificate of Rana, saying it was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents, and had also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on her.
A vacation bench of Justices Vineet Saran and Dinesh Maheshwari took note of the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the lawmaker, and issued notices to respondents including the State Government, District Caste Scrutiny Committee and Anandra Vithoba Adsul who had challenged the veracity of the caste certificate of the MP.
“Issue notice. We will have it for hearing on July 27. Meanwhile, we have stayed the judgment of the Bombay High Court. It is understood that on the next date of hearing the matter will be disposed of,” the bench said. The court, which proposed to issue notice on Rana's appeal and stay the high court's judgement at the outset, took note of vehement submission of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Adsul, that the verdict not be stayed without hearing him.
Rana, backed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), had won from Amravati constituency in 2019 by claiming to be a member of 'Mochi' scheduled caste. The high court had held that Rana's claim of belonging to 'Mochi' caste for obtaining the SC certificate itself was fraudulent and made with the intention of obtaining various benefits available to a candidate from such category, despite knowing she does not belong to that caste.