On November 29, the Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed the bill that would now provide 16 per cent reservation to Maratha community. The reservation has been provided to Marathas, a politically influential community in Maharashtra is under the Socially and Educationally Backward Category (SEBC) Act, 2018. The new reservation has surpassed the 50 per cent mark which was set by the Supreme Court for all the states. Till now there was a 52 per cent reservation in the state, with the new 16 per cent reservation it has reached 68 per cent. The Bill has now gone to the Upper House.
Have constitutional Rights to get reservation
According to The Indian Express, Maharastra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis tabled the bill in the winter session today. He also presented the recommendations report -Action Taken Report (ATR) on Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission’s (MSBCC) in the assembly. The State Commission for the Backward Classes had submitted a favourable report on the Maratha demands on November 15, reported Livemint. The commission was set up in 2016 when the Maratha community’s demand for quota grew.
According to the recommendations by the Commission, the Marathas should be getting reservations. The recommendation community stated that the Maratha community do not have adequate representation in the job sector. It said that the community is entitled to get reservation benefits under constitutional provisions such as Article 15 (4) (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) and 16 (4) (Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment) of the Indian Constitution.
Maratha class that constitutes 32- 35 per cent of the state’s population have been demanding reservation for a long time. Earlier this year, the Maratha community had staged several protests demanding reservations. The demonstrations which initially started as silent protests later turned violent at some places. At some pockets, roads and railway line were blocked by the protestors. The protests were organised under the banner of Maratha Kranti Morcha, who had also called for Bandh in Mumbai.
Long coming demands
Taking notice of the protests, the state government led by Devendra Fadnavis assured the community that their demands would be met. “A law was made for reservation to the community, but that was stayed by Bombay High Court,” Mr Fadnavis said.
Notably, in July this year, while speaking to the media persons about the Maratha reservation, the CM said, “We are clear about one thing. While giving reservation to Marathas, no other quota will be touched or reduced. A separate reservation will be given, as reported by The Times Of India.
The Marathas that predominantly belong to the agrarian community, claimed that even the politicians had not done much for them. They stated that with reservation the condition of the SC and ST community improved which is why they were also demanding for the same. Previously, in 2014, the Congress-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) government too had given a 16 per cent quota to the Maratha. However, it was later put aside by the court.
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