Don’t resort to violent protests or suicides: HC
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court (HC) on Tuesday urged members of the Maratha community not to resort to violence or take extreme steps such as committing suicide to push for their demand for reservation in public employment and education.
A division bench of justice Ranjit More and justice Anuja Prabhudessai urged the Maharashtra government to be “sensitive” towards the demands, hoping the Maharashtra State Commission for Backward Classes expedites its work related to fresh assessment of social and educational backwardness of the community. “We are concerned about the suicides and situation in the state,” the bench said, referring to suicides across Maharashtra over the demand.
Senior lawyer Ravi Kadam, who represented the state, said members of the community must realise the matter is sub-judice. The government is helpless, as it cannot do anything in the absence of the report by the commission headed by retired justice MG Gaikwad, he said. “The government can’t jump the gun and take a decision,” he said.
The court was hearing public interest litigations challenging the June 25 decision of the state to grant 16% reservation to Marathas and 5% for specified Muslim communities in public employment and education. Acting on the PILS, on November 14, 2014, the HC stayed implementation of the decision for Marathas on the basis of the findings of the Mandal Commission (1990), the National Commission for Backward Classes in February 2000 and July 2008 report of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (Bapat Commission).
The state then started to compile data to show the community was socially and educationally backward and required the benefit of reservation. Subsequently, the matter was referred to the Backward Classes Commission for fresh assessment to determine their social and educational backwardness.
Kadam on Tuesday told the bench the commission has decided to collect data on Marathas in public employment through private agencies and conduct a survey to assess their educational backwardness. The work is likely to be completed by September 5. The lawyer said the data will be analysed by a panel of experts, whose conclusions will be used by the commission to record its own conclusions, and the commission has said it will be able to submit its report to the government by November 15.