No Consensus on Panchamasali Caste Entry in Census, Review Panel Formed

VIJAYAPURA

A state executive meeting of the Kudalasangama Lingayat Panchamasali Advocates’ Council was held to resolve ongoing confusion regarding the appropriate caste name under which the Panchamasali community should register during the upcoming central and state caste census.

Lawyers from 13 districts across Karnataka participated in the meeting, which was presided over by Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji of the Kudalasangama Panchamasali Peetha. While some advocated for registering as "Lingayat Panchamasali", others preferred "Hindu Lingayat Panchamasali". With no consensus reached, the council decided to hold a second round of discussions at Savadatti on September 21.

To further examine the issue, a review committee led by Supreme Court lawyer Santhosh Engi was constituted to verify whether the Panchamasali Samaj code exists in the current central census caste list.

Addressing the gathering, Swamiji stressed the role of lawyers in ensuring that the correct name is entered to secure educational, employment, and political opportunities for future generations of the Panchamasali community. He recalled that the 2015 Kantaraju survey failed to capture the community's full representation, noting that 16 lakh Panchamasalis reside in the state.

MLA Basanagowda Patila Yatnal and several community leaders were present at the meeting.

BOX

“Let’s ensure that the name of Panchamasali Samaj is not misused. Some ignorant capitalists among us are trying to hijack our movement for personal gain. We must not let them succeed,” — Basavajaya Mrityunjaya Swamiji.