Bombay Catholic Sabha Faces Election Dispute; Members Move Charity Commissioner
**Alleged Discrepancies in Bombay Catholic Sabha Orlem Unit Elections Spark Controversy**
Mumbai: Members of the Orlem, Malad, unit of the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS) have lodged a complaint with the Charity Commissioner concerning alleged irregularities in the election process for the managing committee.
The issue first surfaced during the annual general meeting of the BCS held last week at the Our Lady of Salvation Church (Portuguese Church) hall. However, the president of the BCS, Dolphy D’Souza, dismissed the allegations, attributing the controversy to ‘groupism.’ He added that a tribunal set up to investigate the matter has validated the election process.
The BCS, affiliated with the All India Catholic Union, is one of the largest Christian organizations in the country, boasting over 50,000 members. Recognized by the Archdiocese of Bombay, the association represents church members who are not part of the organized clergy. It actively participates in civic, social, and political activities. Members of the managing committees for both the central body and its various units are elected through a formal election process.
The complaint from the Orlem unit centers on the claim that their recent elections were conducted without obtaining a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Charity Commissioner. This certificate is mandatory due to an ongoing case concerning the elections held for the 2022-2025 committee.
According to the complaint, the election process, which began in July, did not follow the proper protocols regarding candidate scrutiny and the withdrawal of candidatures. Leon Gomes, an Orlem resident and election aspirant, stated, “We raised concerns with the Charity Commissioner and the Archdiocese of Bombay about the discrepancies and requested that the elections be put on hold.”
Gomes further alleged that the list of candidates declared eligible to contest was not published on official BCS letterhead and was only communicated via email, casting doubts on the credibility of the election process. He suggested that these irregularities pointed towards rigging and malpractice.
Responding to the allegations, Dolphy D’Souza said, “The claims of rigging are being made by those who lost the elections. The elections were conducted according to the constitution of the organization. The tribunal has listened to the grievances and has concluded that there were no malpractices.”
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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bombay-catholic-sabha-faces-election-dispute-members-move-charity-commissioner
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