KOCHI: The Kerala High court on Monday disqualified five-time MP Kodukunnil Suresh from Mavelikara (Reserved) constituency declaring his election void, holding that he was not entitled to claim the benefits and privileges available to the members of the Scheduled Caste.
Allowing the election petition of defeated candidate A S Anil Kumar (CPI) and two others, Justice M Shasdhidharan Nambiar found that Suresh was not a member of 'Cheramar' community and thereby he was not a Scheduled Caste.
Justice Nambiar held that he is 'disqualified' to contest from Mavelikara constituency as it is reserved for Schedule Castes.
The court found that Suresh had produced contradictory caste certificates issuing by Tahsildars of Kottarakara and Nedumangad.
In the 194-page judgement, the court criticised the action of the Returning officer and observed that he should not have accepted the nomination without a finding that Suresh is a member of Scheduled Caste.
The Times of India
