Guj HC quashes order declaring independent MLA a non-tribal

In a relief for the newly elected independent MLA from Morva Hadaf, Bhupendra Khant, the Gujarat High Court today quashed an order of the Tribal Development Commissioner, who had invalidated his caste certificate.
The Morva Hadaf constituency in Panchamahal district of Gujarat was reserved for tribal candidates.
Khant had challenged the commissioner's order in the HC.
Justice Bela Trivedi today quashed the order, and asked Khant to approach the caste scrutiny committee afresh with all the documents supporting his contention that he belongs to a tribal community before February 7.
The committee shall take a decision by February 21, the high court said.

The scrutiny committee, headed by Tribal Development Commissioner R J Makadia, had invalidated the caste certificate of Khant last week.
According to Makadia, the committee initiated an inquiry after receiving a complaint from local tribal leaders who alleged that Khant produced a fake caste certificate to contest a seat reserved for tribals.