16 BMC corporators disqualified in 10 years, reveals RTI reply

MUMBAI: As many as four Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) corporators were disqualified in the current term (from 2012 to 2017) for producing wrong credentials, including submitting false caste certificates, a recent Right to Information ( RTI) query has revealed.

The current term of country's richest corporation ends in the first week of March and the elections are slated to be held on February 21 for formation of new House.

Three corporators lost their post for producing false caste certificates in the current term, while one corporator lost his post for violating the norm of having more than two children, documents procured under the RTI by activist Anil Galgali, reveal.

A total of 16 corporators of BMC have been disqualified in the last two terms of civic house. In the previous House from 2007 to 2012, a total of 12 corporators were disqualified for similar reasons, mentions the reply.

"While giving tickets, political parties should ensure that candidates with proper caste certificates are nominated to fight elections. The BMC administration as well as Election Commission should act tough against erring corporators so that a precedent is set and no one else dares to do so (violate the rules) in future," said Galgali.

"The comparative record reflects that during the present tenure from year 2012-17, situation has improved significantly as only four corporators were disqualified against 12 a term prior," he said.