The Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a Bill proposing 16 per cent reservation for Marathas under socially and educationally backward category. The bill has now gone to the Upper House.
The Bill provides for reservation of seats for admission in educational institutions and posts in public services to the Marathas who have been declared as socially and educationally backward and under-represented.
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The Fadnavis government had on November 18 approved the SBCC panel’s recommendation for a 16% quota for Marathas.
The SBCC panel had suggested that looking at exceptional circumstances and extraordinary situations generated on declaring Marathas as socially and educationally backwards and their consequential entitlement to reservation benefits, the government may take appropriate decision within constitutional provision to address the emerging scenario in the state. The panel report said that Marathas have inadequate representation in services under the state and they are entitled to reservation benefits and advantages enshrined in the Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution.
Chief Minister Fadnavis had earlier hinted at the government’s decision to table the Maratha reservation bill in the state assembly. “I request all of you to prepare to celebrate on December 1,” he said while addressing a gathering in Ahmednagar.
The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 per cent of the state’s population, has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education for a long time.