Is Noble eligible to contest?

Whether Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) trusteeship candidate Maharukh Noble is eligible to contest the May 29, 2022 elections will probably be decided by the Election Commission (EC) at a hearing on May 19, at 3 p.m.

A complaint has been lodged with the EC alleging that Noble "does not satisfy the eligibility criteria” in Clause 6.1 (i) of the BPP election scheme. The Clause states, "Any Parsi desirous of contesting elections… (should not have) been convicted by a court of law anywhere in the world and sentenced to imprisonment of not less than six months (suspended or otherwise).”

BPP trusteeship candidate Kaikhushroo Irani who filed the complaint alleged "Noble has been convicted for physically assaulting a senior citizen (her sister-in-law), Dr Nelie Noble, a former trustee of the BPP, causing grievous hurt including injuring the retina of the victim's eye, who had to be hospitalized… This episode led to a complaint dated November 25, 1990 being registered by the Bombay Police,” he noted. Irani asked that Maharukh "be directed to file an affidavit disclosing all the facts and circumstances leading to her conviction and sentencing; substantiated by supporting documents.”

Maharukh responded stating, "I deny that I do not satisfy the eligibility criteria… Relevant information has been deliberately supressed by the complainant.” Noting that "the records for the period are not easily available,” she added, "I am not able to produce the relevant orders with this reply. I also do not admit the veracity of the documents relied upon by the complainant.”

Thereafter Irani retaliated, "It is crystal clear that Mrs Noble does not deny that an order of conviction and sentencing her to one year rigorous imprisonment has been passed against her.” Irani called upon the EC to immediately ask Maharukh "to categorically confirm or deny in a single sentence whether such an order of conviction and sentencing has been passed against her or not.”

Parsiana