Cong's corporator from Kalina gets Bombay HC interim relief

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has given interim relief to Congress’s Kalina corporator, Tulip Brian Miranda, who was recently disqualified by the district caste verification committee and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) on grounds that she produced a fake caste certificate that purportedly showed her as an OBC. The HC has stayed disqualification proceedings against Tulip for two weeks. It has directed the state and MCGM not to disqualify her till further hearing.

Tulip had challenged the disqualification stating that she belonged to the East Indian Catholic community, an ethno-religious community falling under OBC category, as recognised by the state. Four days ago, her claim of being an East Indian was rejected by the district caste verification committee, and her caste certificate was declared invalid and will be cancelled. The caste verification committee concluded that Tulip did not fall under the OBC category, and rejected her claims of being an East Indian or an OBC.

During the last election, Kalina was declared as an OBC women’s ward which is why former Congress corporator of Kalina, Brian Miranda, asked Tulip to contest the election and retain hold over the ward.

A bench of justices B.R.Gavai and M.S.Karnik directed the Maharashtra government and BMC not to disqualify Tulip until further orders. The court also asked the state, BMC, and caste verification committee to file their replies within two weeks.

However, the Bandra district divisional caste scrutiny committee held that Tulip did not fall under the OBC category, and rejected her claim of being an East Indian Catholic.