Gujarat HC grants interim relief after Anand panchayat candidate’s nomination rejected over caste certificate

Gujarat High Court has provided interim relief to Mayuri Patel, an elected member of the Anand District Panchayat, after her nomination for the post of president was rejected by election authorities.

The controversy arose on May 24, 2026, when the Returning Officer of Anand District rejected Ms Patel’s nomination form for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seat. The rejection was based solely on the grounds that her 'Bhil Scheduled Tribe' certificate was issued by authorities in Maharashtra rather than Gujarat, despite the tribe being recognised under Presidential Orders in both states.

The court noted that the issue requires judicial determination. While the petitioner is a duly elected member of the panchayat, the legal dispute centres on whether a caste certificate from a different state remains valid for local leadership elections.

The court has issued notices to the respondents, returnable on June 8, 2026.