Panchayat poll winners get six months to file caste papers

The Maharashtra cabinet approved on Thursday a proposal giving six months to gram panchayat election candidates to submit caste validity certificates. Officials said caste validation committees were under tremendous work burden and it was not possible to provide aspiring candidates the certificates in the stipulated time frame.

Maharashtra Gram Panchayat Act will be amended so that aspirants are not prevented from contesting panchayat polls.

While filing nomination papers,candidates will have to provide proof of having submitted caste validity applications to the committee,with an affidavit that they would submit the certificate within six months of winning polls,the officials said.

The decision will benefit candidates planning to contest in the over 7,000 gram panchayats going to polls next month.