SC to hear Maratha quota plea on July 15

MUMBAI: The Supreme Court (SC) will hold hearings on a day-to-day basis in the Maratha reservation case following a plea made by petitioners challenging the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra law granting quota to the community in education and jobs.

The Apex court has asked all the counsels to submit and specify the time they need to argue. It will take up hearing on petitions now on July 15 and may pass an interim order on the matter.

The three-judge bench led by Justice L Nageswara Rao heard the petitions, including one challenging reservation benefit to postgraduate medical students from the Maratha community in admission for this academic year on Tuesday.

The court indicated that the petition challenging the validity of the law can be heard on a dayto-day basis following a plea from the petitioners.

The court also seemed amenable to conduct physical hearings after senior advocate Shyam Divan insisted on it.

Mukul Rohatgi, former attorney general of India, who is representing the state, too supported the demand.

Petitioner Vinod Patil, in his plea, had demanded the case to be transferred to the five-judge bench. However, the court ruled that out in the current scenario.

Public works department (PWD) minister Ashok Chavan, who is heading a cabinet subcommittee formed to review progress of legal matters for Maratha reservation and take decisions, said the Apex court again refused to grant a stay on the law for reservation.

“The petitioners had demanded a stay on reservation but the battery of senior lawyers led by Mukul Rohatgi for the state argued effectively,” said Chavan.

He said that the Apex court will now hear petitions on granting reservation benefits in admissions for postgraduate medical courses on July 15.