In a recent development before the Supreme Court, the state of Maharashtra has argued that Amravati MP Navneet Kaur Rana's caste certificate is invalid as it is based on a Sikh Chamar document from Punjab, which is contrary to the Constitution of India.

Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Maharashtra, emphasized the disparity between caste classifications in different states, stating, "Based on a Punjab document can a certificate in Maharashtra be issued... there is no way I can say that I am 'X' caste in Punjab so you give me a certificate under the Maharashtra Presidential order... a Mochi in Maharashtra is different than a Mochi in Punjab, they are different inquiries."

The bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol was also apprised that Rana's father's caste certificate, submitted during his school admission, only identified him as a Sikh and not belonging to any backward class.

Additionally, it was revealed that the Bombay High Court, in canceling Rana's caste certificate, had relied on a document showing her mother's ration card, which was found to be interpolated.

"High Court found that caste was added in 2014... ration card never has caste... they want to remand it back on the basis of these two documents which were not checked by the caste scrutiny committee," Farasat argued before the apex court.

This legal battle stems from Rana's challenge to the Bombay High Court's order in 2022, which revoked her caste certificate. The High Court had determined that Rana contested in a reserved category seat during the 2019 elections by presenting a fraudulent certificate claiming she belonged to the Mochi (Scheduled Caste) community. The petition before the Bombay High Court was filed by former Shiv Sena MP Anandra Vithoba Adsul.

In its ruling in June 2021, the Bombay High Court not only annulled Rana's caste certificate but also imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakhs on her, directing her to surrender the certificate.

Case: Navneet Kaur Rana vs. State of Maharashtra.