JOIN USA rattled Maharashtra government on Saturday formally decided to move the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court stay on reservations in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community.
On Friday, the Bombay High Court imposed a stay on the 16 per cent reservation for the politically influential Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions, and also on a 5 per cent reservation in government jobs for Muslims.
The court, however, had allowed the decision to provide 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in educational institutions.
The decision to move the Supreme Court was taken at an all-party meeting presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Congress, Republican Party of India’s Athawale faction and the Shiv Sangram were present at the meeting.
However, there was surprisingly no representation from the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has been championing the cause of the Maratha community.
“Those gathered were of the opinion that we must move the Supreme Court,” said Fadnavis. Broad-based discussions on the issue were held.
Vinayak Mete of the Shiv Sangram said a committee of officials would be formed so it could come up with a report before the winter session of the Assembly in Nagpur.
Congress leader and former minority affairs minister Naseem Khan said the recommendations of the Narayan Rane committee were as per the law, and it was imperative that “we provide reservations to the Marathas and Muslims”.