Maharashtra to create category for quota to Marathas

In a development that will have nationwide impact, the Maharashtra government on Sunday decided to create a new category to provide reservation in jobs and education to the Maratha community.

The new category will be known as the Socially & Economically Backward Class (SEBC). Thus, Maharashtra is set to follow the pattern of Tamil Nadu, where reservation is as high as 69%.

As of now, Maharashtra has 52% reservation comprising different categories. The Supreme Court had mandated a cap of 50%.

In states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Patidars and Gujjars, respectively, are demanding reservation.

The decision to create the separate category of SEBC was taken on the basis of the recommendations of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) at a Cabinet meeting on the eve of the winter session of Maharashtra legislature.

"We have decided to create a separate category to give reservation to the Maratha community," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told a news conference at the Sahyadri guest house at Malabar Hill here.

"We received the report with three recommendations. Independent reservation will be given to Maratha community under SEBC. We have constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing the recommendations," he said.

Last week, the MSBCC submitted its report to the Maharashtra government.
The politically-dominant Maratha community that comprises nearly 33% of Maharashtra's 11.25 crore population has been demanding reservations peacefully since the last few years. The agitation had turned violent in July-August.

The previous Congress-NCP Democratic Front government had provided for 16% reservation for Marathas in 2014, but it was stayed by the Bombay High Court. When the BJP-Shiv Sena government came to power four years ago, addressing this issue was a major challenge.

In the next few days, the government is expected to bring in a bill on SEBC and Mahatha reservation.

Of Maharashtra's total 52% reservation, 13% and 7% is reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, respectively; 19% is reserved for Other Backward Classes. The rest 13% is reserved for Nomadic Tribes, Denotified Tribes and Special Backward Classes. Disturbing the 19% OBC reservation — by bringing in Marathas under OBC — would not have been a politically wise decision.

Sunday's decision of Maratha reservation comes ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.