Maratha Reservation: Maharashtra Assembly passes quota bill for community in jobs and education

The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday passed the much-awaited Maratha reservation Bill which proposes 16 per cent reservation to the members of the Maratha community in government jobs and the education sector. The Bill was passed unanimously shortly after it was tabled in the state Assembly. 

The state government also tabled a two-page action taken report (ATR) on the State Backward Class Commission's (SBCC) recommendations on the Maratha quota issue, ANI reported. Maharashtra has seen widespread protests over the Maratha quota issue in recent months. 

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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who tabled the Bill, thanked Opposition members for helping in passage of the Bill unanimously.

Marathas have been declared as socially and educationally backward class of citizens (SEBC) and have inadequate representation in services under the state, the panel report said. They are entitled to reservation benefits and advantages enshrined in the Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution, it said.

Shiv Sena and BJP had earlier issued a whip to their members asking them to remain present in their respective houses, legislative Assembly and legislative council, in view of the tabling of Bill related to  Maratha reservation by the state government on Thursday. 

Shiv Sena and BJP have issued a whip to their members to be present today in their respective houses, legislative assembly & legislative council, in view of the tabling of bill related to #MarathaReservation by Maharashtra government

— ANI (@ANI) November 29, 2018

On November 18, Fadnavis had announced that his government has accepted the recommendations of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) on the socio-economic status of the Marathas and would grant them 16 per cent reservation under a new Socio-Economic Backward Class (SEBC) category.

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“We have accepted the recommendations made by the MSBCC. We have decided to accord reservations to the Maratha community under a new SEBC category. The reservations to be granted to Marathas will be independent of the existing reservations for the OBC category,” the Maharashtra chief minister had said.

In November 2014, the Bombay High Court had stayed the then Congress-NCP government’s decision to grant 16 per cent quota to Marathas, saying that it was the breach of Supreme Court’s order.