SC issues notice to Ajit Jogi in forgery case

New Delhi, July 23 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notice to former Chattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Kumar Jogi and his associate on a petition filed by Collector Bilaspur, challenging a state High Court judgement, acquitting Jogi in a case of obtaining forged and bogus ST certificate to contest Assembly election from a Reserved constituency.

A bench comprising Justices B N Agrawal and P P Naolekar, however, stayed the part of High Court judgement (Para39) which directed the original complainant Sant Kumar Netam to pay the entire cost of litigation to Ajit Jogi.

Counsel for the petitioner contended before the court that the High Court judgement holding that the Collector does not have the power to look into the individual complaint is wrong both on facts as well as on law and if the High Court judgement is not set aside then it will create chaos across the country and administrative set up at district as well as state level may collapse as people will start procuring bogus caste certificate to enjoy the benefits available to the candidates of reserved category, in turn denying the benefits of reservation to the deserving candidate.

Ajit Jogi, a senior Congress leader, has, however, denied the allegation as false and politically motivated.

UNI