MARGAO
Monday is the day for the withdrawal of the nomination papers.
A couple of nomination papers were rejected by the Returning officer either for want of caste certificates, including the nomination of Maria Fernandes, Orlim.
The nomination paper of former Dramapur-Sirlim Sarpnach Seby Pereira was rejected by the Returning officer, Manoj Korgaonkar following objection raised by incumbent Sarpanch Bernard Rebello for ward no 1. Bernard had challenged Seby’s nomination papers on grounds that he has entered into a contract with the panchayat body for the collection of sopo.
The Returning officer accepted the nomination paper of Jesus D’Costa for ward No II of Cavelossim Panchayat. The nomination of Jesus was challenged by Julio Fernandes on grounds that Jesus had in November 25, 2011 stated that he belonged to the Kharvi community and has now claimed himself a “Christian Render(toddy tapper)”.
On the other hand, Jesus replied that he was born into a Christian community living besides River Sal, saying his parents were doing the business of both fishing as well as toddy tapping to eke out a living. Jesus further contended that the old certificate has become obsolete by efflux of time as the validity of the same has expired.
In his order, RO Korgaonkar observed that Jesus has produced a provisional Certificate which certifies him to be a Christian Render, adding that his task as an RO is to only ascertain whether the person who have filed the nomination belongs to the OBC
category or not and not to dissect and check which of two certificates are right, whether the certificate of OBC being kharvi or whether the certificate of OBC being a Christian Render is correct or not.
