Maharashtra Assembly passes bill promising 16% reservation to Marathas in jobs and education

File photo of protest over Maratha quota

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the much-awaited Maratha quota bill which promises 16% reservation to the members of the Maratha community in government jobs and the education sector.

The bill was passed unanimously shortly after it was tabled in the state assembly. 

The Maratha quota bill has now been sent to the Upper House for its approval, reported ANI. 

Maratha reservation bill passed unanimously in Maharashtra legislative assembly, the bill has now gone to the upper house. pic.twitter.com/5nISNczjDx — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

State's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavi has thanked all political parties for their support in passing bill with a voice vote. 

The state government also tabled a two-page action taken report (ATR) on the State Backward Class Commission's (SBCC) recommendations on the Maratha quota issue, ANI repored.

The state of Maharashtra has seen widespread protests over the Maratha quota issue in the recent months.   

On the issue of giving reservation to the Dhangar community, Fadnavis said, ''We've completed a due procedure for Maratha reservation report and we're bringing a bill today. But for Dhangar reservation, we've not completed the report. A sub-committee is appointed  and soon a report and the ATR will be tabled in this house.''

Fadnavis said this in the state assembly. 

Shiv Sena and BJP had earlier issued a whip to their members asking them to remain present in their respective houses, legislative assembly and legislative council, in view of the tabling of bill related to  Maratha reservation by the state government today.

Shiv Sena and BJP have issued a whip to their members to be present today in their respective houses, legislative assembly & legislative council, in view of the tabling of bill related to #MarathaReservation by Maharashtra government — ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil presided over a meeting of the state Cabinet sub-committee over the issue late on Wednesday.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Patil had hinted on Wednesday that the ongoing Winter session of the assembly may be extended, if needed, to pass the Bill which provides for reservation to the Maratha community.

According to the current schedule, the Winter Session of the Maharashtra assembly, which began in Mumbai on November 19, is set to conclude on November 30.

It may be recalled that the erstwhile Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition government had granted 16 percent reservation to Marathas in jobs and education.

However, it was stayed by the Bombay High Court later

The Opposition parties, including Congress and the NCP, have been demanding tabling of reports of the SBCC recommending quota for Marathas and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' report on reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community.

Like Marathas, the Dhangar community has also been pressing for reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

The Cabinet sub-committee was formed last week to study the SBCC's report on reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education and take a decision on it.

The government had received the report on November 15 and it was placed before the Cabinet on November 18 for approval.

The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 percent of the state's population, has been demanding quota for a long time and its agitation for the same in July and August this year had taken a violent turn. 

(With PTI inputs)