look news india
Mumbai: Maharashtra government has called a special session of the assembly tomorrow to provide 10 to 12 percent special reservation to Marathas in addition to the 50 percent limit of reservation. Marathas are likely to get 10 to 12 percent special reservation in education and jobs. It appears that the government is basing this provision on the recent report of the Backward Classes Commission.
The Maharashtra Backward Classes Commission, headed by retired judge Sunil Shukre, recently submitted a special report to the state government determining the backwardness of Marathas. It is expected that the government will make provision for Maratha reservation on the basis of the report of this commission.
The commission has submitted this report on Marathas after a nine-day survey of more than two crore houses in the state.
The findings of this report have not been presented. But it is said that this has confirmed that Marathas are educationally and socially backward. Now the government has to ensure that how to make provision for Maratha reservation on the basis of this report.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the session was called to take steps for Maratha reservation, adding that the government intended to give reservation to Marathas without harming the reservation of OBCs or other communities.
Earlier, the Devendra Fadnavis government of the state had also made a similar arrangement to give special reservation to Marathas on the basis of the report of the Backward Classes Commission. Even then, a provision for Maratha reservation was made by passing a similar resolution in the Assembly. Fadnavis government had made a provision of 16 percent reservation. But along with maintaining the Maratha reservation, the High Court also maintained the provision of 12 percent reservation in education and 13 percent reservation in jobs. However, later the matter reached the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court rejected the provision of Maratha reservation saying that there is no need to change the decision of Indira Sawhney case that the total reservation should be limited to 50 percent.
Maratha reservation movement leader Manoj Jarange Patil resumed his fast demanding a special law for Maratha reservation. Accepting their demand, the government is calling this special session.
The government has also assured to extend the benefit of OBC Anathema by issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas and their relatives who have records of belonging to Kunbi caste. However, Manoj Jarange Patil is demanding Kunbi caste certificate for all Marathas.
At the same time, the OBC community is angry with this step of the government. According to the argument of OBC leaders including Chhagan Bhujbal, a government minister, this step of the government will affect OBC reservation.