Maharashtra approves bill to extend 10% reservation to Marathas in education, govt jobs

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday endorsed a bill, expanding reservation benefits to Marathas beyond the 50 per cent threshold, during a special session of the state legislature.

The approved bill, which grants a 10 per cent quota to Marathas, mirrors the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced during the tenure of the former Devendra Fadnavis government.

This marks the third instance in the past decade where the state has introduced legislation to accommodate the Maratha community’s reservation needs.

The decision to hold a special session was prompted by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, currently undertaking a hunger strike in Antarwali Saarati village, Jalna district.

The extension of reservation stems from a report submitted by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC), chaired by Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre, to the state government.

Additionally, the state already implements a 10 per cent quota for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS), with Marathas being the primary beneficiaries, claiming 85 per cent of the allocation.

The Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on Friday submitted a report on the social and educational backwardness of the Maratha community for which it had undertaken a survey of around 2.5 crore homes within a span of only nine days.

The committee proposed a 10 per cent reservation for Marathas in education and jobs, similar to that given in 2018 by the then-state government.

In June 2017, the then Devendra Fadnavis government had constituted the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) headed by Justice (retired) MG Gaikwad to study the social, financial and educational status of the Maratha community.

The Commission submitted its report in November 2018, classifying Marathas as a socially and educationally backward class (SEBC).

Notably, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stressed on Friday that reservation to Marathas will be given according to the terms of the law after presenting the report in during the special assembly session called for Tuesday.

With inputs from agencies