Maharashtra government's 16 percent Maratha quota challenged in Bombay HC, hearing on December 10

A bill promising 16 percent reservation to Marathas in Maharashtra Assembly was passed by a voice vote on November 29a.

MUMBAI: A petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government's decision to grant 16 percent reservation to the members of the Maratha community in education and government jobs.

The petition has been filed by an advocate Gunaratan Sadavarte on behalf of the petitioner Jayashree Patil.

In his petition, Patil claimed that the Maharashtra government's decision was violative of Supreme Court orders which says that reservation in any state should not exceed 50 percent.

Bombay High Court will now hear the plea on December 10.

The plea was filed against the reservation given to Maratha community in education and jobs, under the new law. https://t.co/hALOs15ey9 — ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2018

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Government has also filed a caveat petition in the Bombay High Court anticipating a challenge to the legislation.

The caveat petition has prayed that no order shall be passed in any petition concerning the Maratha reservation legislation without first hearing the state government.

On November 29, the Maharashtra Assembly passed a bill granting 16 percent reservation in education and government jobs for the Maratha community under the socially and educationally backward category (SEBC).

This 16 percent quota will be in addition to the existing 52 percent reservation for other groups, taking the total percentage in the state to 68 per cent.

The bill was approved and signed by the Maharashtra governor on November 30.

In June last year, the State Backward Class Commission was asked to study the social, financial and educational status of the Maratha community. 

The commission submitted its report to the government last month. 

(With Agency inputs)