Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Apr 5:  The permanent bench of the state high court (HC) at Dharwad has cancelled the income and caste certificate filed by Veena Kashappanavar, current president of Bagalkot zilla panchayat (ZP), when filing nomination for the zilla panchayat election. As such, there is a big question mark on her very membership of the zilla panchayat.

In a verdict having far-reaching consequences delivered on Tuesday April 4, the HC division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kottary and Justice S B Prabhakar Shastri cancelled the income and caste certificates furnished by Veena. Veena had got elected in 2016 from Dannur constituency in Hungund tlauk, Bagalkot district, and risen to the position of ZP president.

Defeated BJP candidate, Shylaja Nadagouda and Koodalsangama ZP candidate, Veeresh Undody, had filed writ petition in the HC, stating that Veenappa Kashappanavar had furnished false caste and income certificate when fighting the election as Congress candidate from the said constituency.  The constituency was reserved for woman candidate belonging to 3 (b) category.

The single judge bench of the HC chaired by Justice Dinesh Kumar, which heard the petition, had quashed the petition. Shylaja had approached the division bench of the HC, questioning this verdict.  With the cancellation of the caste and income certificate furnished by her by the division benh of the HC now, Veena is likely to lose her zilla panchayat membership.