The Kushwaha community cannot fight election as Dangi, the Patna High Court said in a key ruling. The court clarified that Kushwaha and Dangi belong to different caste groups. Because of this, candidates cannot claim the Dangi caste to contest seats reserved for another category.
The case came from West Champaran district in Bihar. A dispute started after a village head won a panchayat election from a seat reserved for the Extremely Backward Class (EBC). Later, some people questioned his caste certificate. They claimed he belonged to the Kushwaha community.
The Kushwaha caste falls under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category in Bihar. The Dangi caste falls under the EBC category. This difference became the main issue in the case.
The High Court studied the inquiry report and government records. It said clearly that the Kushwaha community cannot fight election as Dangi. The court also refused to accept the petition challenging the earlier findings.
The judgment sends a clear message. Candidates must use their real caste identity while contesting elections on reserved seats.
