Digital Goa, Aug 29 – High Court has declared the OBC certificate issued to AAP ZP member Hanzel Fernandes by the Deputy Collector as invalid and void ab initio(having no legal effect from inception). Fernandes had contested the Benaulim ZP seat reserved for OBC category and won the same. “ The Deputy Collector’s caste certificates dated 05.03.2020, 12.12.2013 and 04.06.2010 declaring Respondent No.6 as belonging to the OBC category are declared as invalid and void ab initio,” states the order. The court also did not accede to request by Fernandes to stay the order for a period of six weeks. The court pointed out in its order that Christian Mesta is not yet included in the State OBC list.
