Difference continue to prevail over the issue of 'Meena' and 'Mina' surnames even as Rajasthan government admits both to be same.
In a fresh petition one Kalulal Bheel has challenge the Rajasthan governments decision to allow change of surname from Meena to Mina.
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On the petition Rajasthan High Court issued notice to the state and centre government seeking explanation in two weeks.
As per the government of India notification the Mina community of Rajasthan is included in schedule tribes and extended the related benefit of reservation in government jobs, education and schemes.
However those 'Meena' surname were also being considered as Mina until some reservation conservatives claimed that the two caste are different.
The state government thus in 2014 had stayed change of surname from Meena to Mina, however this order was later withdrawn and surname change process resumed as usual.
However it has once again been drawn to court.
"If the state government believes that there is no difference between the two surname than there is no need for changing it in certificates. The only reason that government has allowed and people are keen to have surname spelling change is because there is difference between the two" says Shobhit Tiwari lawyer of the petitioner.
The state government previously in a similar case submitted before the high court that both the spellings are correct and are used by a single caste.
However those opposing the government stand claim that Mina was surname used by some tribes in centre and west region of Rajasthan while Meena were prosperous caste of eastern Rajasthan.
The issue directly influences prospects of millions of Meena youth and the state government is unwilling to have these offended.
Even CM Vasundhara Raje had previously assured Meena youth that they shall not be worried over the difference.
