Maratha quota: Hearing deferred

The Bombay High Court on Thursday deferred a hearing of an application seeking ‘expedition’ of the proceedings in the Maratha Reservation petition, till September 30.

It may be recalled that activist Ketan Tirodkar had filed a public interest litigation opposing the Congress-NCP government’s decision of providing reservation to Maratha Community in government jobs and educational institutions.

Accordingly, a division bench of HC had stayed the government’s decision of providing reservation to Maratha Community.

Vinod Patil, who claims to be aggrieved by the HC’s decision, on Thursday mentioned his intervention application before another division bench headed by Justice Anoop Mohta.

Patil’s contention is that there has been no hearing in Tirodkar’s PIL since last 17 months, which is affecting the Maratha Community adversely as the community is unable to take benefits of the then government’s decision.

It must be noted that Tirodkar in his PIL has claimed that majority of the land, cooperative societies, MLAs, minsiters and chief ministers in the State has been from the Maratha Community and so providing reseveration to it is an attempt to make ‘fraud’ of the nation.

However, while hearing Patil’s application, Justice Mohta posted the matter on September 30 for hearing it.

Accordingly, Justice Mohta directed the Maharashtra government and Tirodkar to file a reply and clarify their stands on the issue.

While speaking to Free Press Journal, Patil said, “I’m from the Maratha Community and so approached the apex court but after its directions, I moved the Bombay HC. The then government had decided to provide reservations to us but due to the (Tirodkar’s) PIL, the HC has stayed the decision and now it has been 17 months we are unable to take the benefits of the policy. Our children are not getting good jobs so I have prayed to expedite the hearings.