Maha cabinet okays Maratha quota report

Cabinet approval paves way for community to get reservations under a separate class; govt will now introduce bill in assembly

The state cabinet on Sunday accepted all recommendations made by the Maharashtra State Commission for the Backward Classes (MSCBC) in its 1,037-page report on whether Marathas should get reservations in jobs and education.

The panel had endorsed the social, educational and financial backwardness of the Marathas after conducting surveys of 43,629 families across the state. The cabinet’s acceptance of the report paves the way for the community to get reservations under a separate class: Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC).

Currently, reservations in Maharashtra add up to 52%, breaching a Supreme Courtmandated cap of 50%. The Marathas have been demanding a 16% quota. By giving the community reservation under the SEBC class, the state has made use of an exception in the Supreme Court’s ruling, which said rules may need to be relaxed in case of extraordinary situations. “While 50% shall be the rule, it is necessary not to put out of consideration certain extraordinary situations inherent in the great diversity of India and the people,” the court’s 1992 ruling had said.

On Sunday, the state government said the report had pointed out how the backwardness of the community was an “exceptional and extraordinary” scenario.

The state panel report said the Maratha community is socially and educationally backward, inadequately represented in government and semi-government jobs, and therefore is eligible for reservation, as per the Constitution of India.

“As the commission has pointed out the prevailing exceptional and extraordinary conditions, it [reservation] is also in accordance with the SC observations regarding crossing the cap,” said CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Fadnavis said the state will not consider including the community under the existing Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota, as this will be “unjust” to both the existing castes in the category and the Marathas.

Currently, Maharashtra has 19% reserved for 346 castes under the OBC category, 8% for 39 tribes under Nomadic Tribes category, 13% and 7% for SC and ST respectively, 3% for Vimukt Jatis, and 2% for Special Backward Classes.