The Maharashtra Assembly on Tuesday cleared a Bill proposing to grant 10 per cent quota to members of the Maratha community in state-run educational institutes and government jobs. The Bill was tabled by the government following clearance from the state Cabinet on Tuesday morning.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Cabinet in Maharashtra today approved a report submitted by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission suggesting a reservation of 10 per cent for Marathas in education and government jobs while recognising the community as a socially and economically backward class.
The state government is set to table a Bill to extend 10 per cent reservation to Marathas in the Vidhan Sabha today, reports The Indian Express.
What does the Backward Class Commission report say?
In its report submitted to the state government on Friday, the Commission stated that the Maratha community should be specified as such under Article 342A(3) of the Constitution of India. The report proposes grant of reservations to these classes under Article 15(4), 15(5) and Article 16(4) and states that 84 per cent of Marathas are not advanced or well off.
The report also refers to the question of breaching the 50 per cent cap on reservations set by the Supreme Court and states that granting reservation to Marathas qualifies as an exceptional case. “Exceptional and extraordinary circumstances specified by the Commission exists while authorising the granting of limited reservation of more than 50 per cent to the Maratha community in reservation in admissions to civil institutions and in reservation in public services and posts,” it said.
The Commission further notes that 10 per cent reservation to Marathas in public services and admissions to educational institutions is “necessary and visible”.
The report submitted by the Commission further noted that making special provisions by law for reservation in public services “for the advancement of the socially and educationally backward and for admissions to educational institutions other than those specified in Clause (1) of Article 30 of the Constitution of India” is desirable.