Civic sources say that if charges are proved in court, they could face disqualification
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Even though it's been nearly a year since the BMC election, it's unlikely that the sitting corporators will have a stress-free tenure. According to civic election department records, around 132 corporators have court cases filed against them. Most of the cases are related to criminal records, submission of fake education and caste certificates, or incorrect asset documents, which if proved in court, might lead to a disqualification, a senior official said.
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Civic officials said a majority of the complainants, who have filed the petitions in court against the corporators, are candidates who came second on result day. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888 allows the candidate in the second position to take charge in case the winning candidate is disqualified.
Incidentally, last year, six corporators faced disqualification after their caste certificates were rejected by the caste panel of the BMC. While five of the corporators managed to get a stay on the order after approaching the Bombay High Court, one independent corporator lost his job.
A petition had also been filed against current mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar during the mayoral election, alleging that he was ineligible because he had suppressed information of drawing salary from the school, where he is principal. A senior civic official, said, "The cases are currently pending and the corporators always have an option to approach the high court for a stay order."
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