Tens of thousands of protesters demanding reservations for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in the Indian state of Maharashtra are currently en route to Mumbai and will reach the country’s financial capital, on Thursday (Jan 25) amid Republic Day celebrations.&nbsp;

<h2>Protests in Mumbai</h2>

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil kickstarted the recent protest march demanding reservation for the Maratha community and may begin an indefinite hunger strike on Friday (Jan 26). He has also reportedly asked his supporters to prepare for a long sit-in protest in the city.&nbsp;

According to organisers, tens of thousands of people are expected to join the march which they&nbsp;describe&nbsp;as one of the biggest in the Indian state’s history. While&nbsp;Jarange-Patil has claimed more than two crore&nbsp;(20 million) people are expected to come to Mumbai in a show of support.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have imposed&nbsp;section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) till February 6&nbsp;in the city ahead of Republic Day celebrations. In line with this, a gathering of five or more people and any kind of a procession&nbsp;in the financial capital is banned.&nbsp;

The Mumbai police have also reportedly denied permission for the protesters to gather at&nbsp;Azad Maidan and instead offered a rally ground in Navi Mumbai's Kharghar.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maratha-protest-maharashtra-state-backward-class-commission-panel-members-quit-citing-govt-interference-669380">Maratha protest: Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel members quit citing govt interference</a>

Jarange-Patil had set out for the march towards Mumbai from Maharashtra’s Jalna district on January 20 with thousands of supporters.&nbsp;

On Thursday (Jan 25), police and personnel from the Rapid Action Force and the bomb disposal squad were seen stationed at one of the entry points to the city.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Media reports citing march&nbsp;organisers said Jarange-Patil will start his indefinite hunger strike on January 26 in Mumbai at Azad Maidan.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, refused to issue an order preventing Jarange-Patil from entering the city.&nbsp;

The petition filed by activist Gunratna Sadavarte said Jarange-Patil, accompanied by crores&nbsp;of his followers, posed a logistical challenge for Mumbai and could cause law and order problems.&nbsp;

<h2>What are they demanding?</h2>

Maratha reservation supporters led by Jarange-Patil have sought the inclusion of all Marathas under the OBC category by giving them Kunbi sub-caste certificates.&nbsp;

Marathas, who form an estimated 33 per cent of the state’s population, have periodically protested for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions of the state.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday (Jan 24) said he is “positive” towards Jarange-Patil’s demands and will “ensure the reservation is legally viable.” He added, “I appeal to Jarange-Patil to stop the agitation.”

Earlier in January, faced with the latest round of protests, the Maharashtra government filed a curative petition asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its 2021 decision of striking down the quota given to Marathas under the ‘socially and educationally backward class’ after they deemed it “unconstitutional”.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ex-karnataka-cm-jagadish-shettar-rejoins-bjp-months-after-crying-foul-over-ill-treatment-683572">Ex-Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar rejoins BJP months after crying foul over 'ill-treatment'</a>

On Wednesday, the state government granted a second extension to a committee formed to finalise the methodology to grant Kunbi status to Marathas, till February 29.

The Maharashtra government has said that it needs time to figure out the legality of the reservation for all Marathas while urging Jarange-Patil to call off the agitation. However, the activist has insisted on continuing till the quota was announced.

Over a decade or so there has been a lot of back and forth between the state government and the courts. Initially, the Maharashtra government had granted a 16 per cent reservation to the community&nbsp;by passing an act, in 2018,&nbsp;following widespread protests.

However, the validity of the legislation was challenged in the Bombay High Court, which later upheld the decision but slashed the quota to 13 per cent and 12 per cent in education and jobs, respectively. In 2021, the apex court quashed it entirely.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of protesters demanding reservations for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in the Indian state of Maharashtra are currently en route to Mumbai and will reach the country’s financial capital, on Thursday (Jan 25) amid Republic Day celebrations.

Tens of thousands of protesters demanding reservations for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in the Indian state of Maharashtra are currently en route to Mumbai and will reach the country’s financial capital, on Thursday (Jan 25) amid Republic Day celebrations. Protests in Mumbai Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil kickstarted the recent protest march demanding reservation for the Maratha community and may begin an indefinite hunger strike on Friday (Jan 26). He has also reportedly asked his supporters to prepare for a long sit-in protest in the city. According to organisers, tens of thousands of people are expected to join the march which they describe as one of the biggest in the Indian state’s history. While Jarange-Patil has claimed more than two crore (20 million) people are expected to come to Mumbai in a show of support. Meanwhile, the Mumbai police have imposed section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) till February 6 in the city ahead of Republic Day celebrations. In line with this, a gathering of five or more people and any kind of a procession in the financial capital is banned. The Mumbai police have also reportedly denied permission for the protesters to gather at Azad Maidan and instead offered a rally ground in Navi Mumbai's Kharghar. ALSO READ | Maratha protest: Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel members quit citing govt interference Jarange-Patil had set out for the march towards Mumbai from Maharashtra’s Jalna district on January 20 with thousands of supporters. On Thursday (Jan 25), police and personnel from the Rapid Action Force and the bomb disposal squad were seen stationed at one of the entry points to the city. Media reports citing march organisers said Jarange-Patil will start his indefinite hunger strike on January 26 in Mumbai at Azad Maidan. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court, on Wednesday, refused to issue an order preventing Jarange-Patil from entering the city. The petition filed by activist Gunratna Sadavarte said Jarange-Patil, accompanied by crores of his followers, posed a logistical challenge for Mumbai and could cause law and order problems. What are they demanding? Maratha reservation supporters led by Jarange-Patil have sought the inclusion of all Marathas under the OBC category by giving them Kunbi sub-caste certificates. Marathas, who form an estimated 33 per cent of the state’s population, have periodically protested for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions of the state. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Wednesday (Jan 24) said he is “positive” towards Jarange-Patil’s demands and will “ensure the reservation is legally viable.” He added, “I appeal to Jarange-Patil to stop the agitation.” Earlier in January, faced with the latest round of protests, the Maharashtra government filed a curative petition asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its 2021 decision of striking down the quota given to Marathas under the ‘socially and educationally backward class’ after they deemed it “unconstitutional”. ALSO READ | Ex-Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar rejoins BJP months after crying foul over 'ill-treatment' On Wednesday, the state government granted a second extension to a committee formed to finalise the methodology to grant Kunbi status to Marathas, till February 29. The Maharashtra government has said that it needs time to figure out the legality of the reservation for all Marathas while urging Jarange-Patil to call off the agitation. However, the activist has insisted on continuing till the quota was announced. Over a decade or so there has been a lot of back and forth between the state government and the courts. Initially, the Maharashtra government had granted a 16 per cent reservation to the community by passing an act, in 2018, following widespread protests. However, the validity of the legislation was challenged in the Bombay High Court, which later upheld the decision but slashed the quota to 13 per cent and 12 per cent in education and jobs, respectively. In 2021, the apex court quashed it entirely. (With inputs from agencies)

Maratha quota march: Thousands of protesters to reach Mumbai on January 26; section 144 imposed

Amid Maratha protests that are erupting in western India’s state of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel, that was appointed to look into the socio-economic backwardness of the Maratha community is crumbling.

Five out of its 10-member panel have quit citing the Maharashtra state government’s interference. It can be called a big setback for the Maratha community which has been fighting for their rights for many years now.

Three members including, the chairman of the commission, Anand Nirgude, a former judge at the Bombay High Court, have resigned. Two days before, two members citing government interference had resigned.

According to confirmed sources, one of the members who resigned in his resignation letter had mentioned that the government was trying to force them into declaring the Maratha community as backward. One of the resigned members alleged that the panel was supposed to work independently but the interference was too much.

Nirgude resigned on December 4, before the start of the winter assembly session. The Maharashtra government conveyed his resignation and the state government’s acceptance of it to the member secretary of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on December 9.

Maharashtra Leader of Opposition (in the Legislative Assembly) and Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar, also a prominent OBC leader accused the state government and said, “The present State Backward Class Commission had been constituted during the time of the MVA government. The Shinde government is bringing pressure on some OBC members in this commission. Why is it trying to throttle the voices of the OBCs in this manner? Why did the government hide the date of Mr Nirgude’s resignation? What was the motive behind this?”

Marathas, who form an estimated 33 per cent of the state’s population, have periodically protested for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions of the state.

The commission looks into matters of including or excluding a particular caste from categories such as Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Special Backward Classes (SBC). The commission, a quasi-judicial body, conducts extensive studies and submits its report to the Maharashtra government.

The panel was supposed to do a comprehensive survey to determine the Maratha community’s social, educational and economic backwardness.

In 2021, the Supreme Court rejected a report on the social and economic backwardness of the Marathas submitted by the commission’s former chairman, Justice M.G. Gaikwad (Retd), and struck down the quota given to Marathas under the ‘socially and educationally backward class’ as “unconstitutional”.

Earlier this year — faced with the latest round of protests just ahead of the 2024 elections — the Maharashtra government filed a curative petition to get the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.

In October this year, the Maharashtra government announced it would grant Kunbi certificates — Kunbis are a sub-Maratha caste group that’s counted among the state’s OBC — to Marathas to

ensure the community is counted among the state’s other backward classes. The move sparked yet another row, with the state’s other OBC groups raising concerns.

Meanwhile, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who’s been at the centre of the fresh Maratha protests, has given the Eknath Shinde government a December 24 deadline to grant reservation.

Amid Maratha protests that are erupting in western India’s state of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel, that was appointed to look into the socio-economic backwardness of the Maratha community is crumbling.

Amid Maratha protests that are erupting in western India’s state of Maharashtra, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel, that was appointed to look into the socio-economic backwardness of the Maratha community is crumbling. Five out of its 10-member panel have quit citing the Maharashtra state government’s interference. It can be called a big setback for the Maratha community which has been fighting for their rights for many years now. Three members including, the chairman of the commission, Anand Nirgude, a former judge at the Bombay High Court, have resigned. Two days before, two members citing government interference had resigned. According to confirmed sources, one of the members who resigned in his resignation letter had mentioned that the government was trying to force them into declaring the Maratha community as backward. One of the resigned members alleged that the panel was supposed to work independently but the interference was too much. Nirgude resigned on December 4, before the start of the winter assembly session. The Maharashtra government conveyed his resignation and the state government’s acceptance of it to the member secretary of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission on December 9. Maharashtra Leader of Opposition (in the Legislative Assembly) and Congressman Vijay Wadettiwar, also a prominent OBC leader accused the state government and said, “The present State Backward Class Commission had been constituted during the time of the MVA government. The Shinde government is bringing pressure on some OBC members in this commission. Why is it trying to throttle the voices of the OBCs in this manner? Why did the government hide the date of Mr Nirgude’s resignation? What was the motive behind this?” Marathas, who form an estimated 33 per cent of the state’s population, have periodically protested for reservations in government jobs and educational institutions of the state. The commission looks into matters of including or excluding a particular caste from categories such as Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Special Backward Classes (SBC). The commission, a quasi-judicial body, conducts extensive studies and submits its report to the Maharashtra government. The panel was supposed to do a comprehensive survey to determine the Maratha community’s social, educational and economic backwardness. In 2021, the Supreme Court rejected a report on the social and economic backwardness of the Marathas submitted by the commission’s former chairman, Justice M.G. Gaikwad (Retd), and struck down the quota given to Marathas under the ‘socially and educationally backward class’ as “unconstitutional”. Earlier this year — faced with the latest round of protests just ahead of the 2024 elections — the Maharashtra government filed a curative petition to get the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision. In October this year, the Maharashtra government announced it would grant Kunbi certificates — Kunbis are a sub-Maratha caste group that’s counted among the state’s OBC — to Marathas to ensure the community is counted among the state’s other backward classes. The move sparked yet another row, with the state’s other OBC groups raising concerns. Meanwhile, Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who’s been at the centre of the fresh Maratha protests, has given the Eknath Shinde government a December 24 deadline to grant reservation.

Maratha protest: Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission panel members quit citing govt interference

The Supreme Court of India has struck down the Maratha quota in excess of the 50% of ceiling limit as unconstitutional.&nbsp;

The court unanimously held that there were no exceptional circumstances justifying the grant of reservation to Marathas in excess of 50% ceiling limit as a Socially and Economically Backward Class.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan allowed no breach of 50 per cent ceiling to give more reservation, as it refused to consider reviewing the Indra Sawhney verdict of 1992. 
 
"Exceeding ceiling limit of 50 per cent laid down by Indra Sawhney is violative of Articles 14 and 15," said the top court. The top court said the people from the Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backwards. 
 
The unanimous judgment was delivered by a bench also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and S Ravindra Bhat. 
 
The top court made it clear that there were no extraordinary circumstances to grant reservation to the Maratha community over and above the 50 per cent ceiling. 
 
The top court struck down the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018 which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment. 
 
The top court emphasized that exceeding the 50 per cent limit in without exceptional circumstances violates Article 14, and it held that the 2018 act as amended in 2019 exceeds the limit without any exceptional circumstances. 
 
The top court held that SEBC Act, which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment is unconstitutional. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The Supreme Court of India has struck down the Maratha quota in excess of the 50% of ceiling limit as unconstitutional. The court unanimously held that there were no exceptional circumstances justifying the grant of reservation to Marathas in excess of 50% ceiling limit as a Socially and Economically Backward Class.

The Supreme Court of India has struck down the Maratha quota in excess of the 50% of ceiling limit as unconstitutional. The court unanimously held that there were no exceptional circumstances justifying the grant of reservation to Marathas in excess of 50% ceiling limit as a Socially and Economically Backward Class. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan allowed no breach of 50 per cent ceiling to give more reservation, as it refused to consider reviewing the Indra Sawhney verdict of 1992. "Exceeding ceiling limit of 50 per cent laid down by Indra Sawhney is violative of Articles 14 and 15," said the top court. The top court said the people from the Maratha community cannot be declared as educationally and socially backwards. The unanimous judgment was delivered by a bench also comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, S Abdul Nazeer, Hemant Gupta and S Ravindra Bhat. The top court made it clear that there were no extraordinary circumstances to grant reservation to the Maratha community over and above the 50 per cent ceiling. The top court struck down the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018 which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment. The top court emphasized that exceeding the 50 per cent limit in without exceptional circumstances violates Article 14, and it held that the 2018 act as amended in 2019 exceeds the limit without any exceptional circumstances. The top court held that SEBC Act, which extends reservation to the Maratha community in public education and employment is unconstitutional. (With inputs from agencies)

India's Supreme Court strikes down Maratha quota, no review on 50% cap on reservation

Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will start from March 17 the final hearing on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a Maharashtra law, which grants reservation to the Maratha community in education and jobs.

Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will start from March 17 the final hearing on the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of a Maharashtra law, which grants reservation to the Maratha community in education and jobs. A division bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta refused to pass an interim order and said, "We will hear on March 17, no adjournment will be granted and all pleadings will be completed by then. We will hear the matter finally and pass the order. We are not staying it. Already there is an order that all appointments will be subject to the outcome of this petition." The bench was hearing two appeals, including one filed by J Laxman Rao Patil challenging the Bombay High Court order that upheld the constitutional validity of the quota for the Maratha community in education and government jobs in Maharashtra. During the hearing of the case in the top court, senior advocate Gopalshankar Narayan appearing for the petitioner asked the bench to stay the High Court order as the reservation today is 65 per cent in education and 62 per cent in jobs, exceeding 50 per cent cap in total reservation. Also Read: Maharashtra Assembly passes SEBC Amendment Bill paving way for Maratha reservation The Bombay High Court had on June 27, 2019, said the 50 per cent cap on total reservations imposed by the Supreme Court could be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. Another appeal filed by advocate Sanjeet Shukla, a representative of "Youth for Equality", said the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, enacted to grant reservation to the Maratha community people in jobs and education, breached the 50-per cent ceiling on reservation fixed by the top court in its judgment in the Indira Sawhney case. The Maharashtra Assembly had, on November 30, 2018, passed the Maratha Reservation Bill which extended 16 per cent reservation in educational institutions and government jobs to the Maratha community.

Supreme Court to start final hearing on pleas challenging Maratha reservation

The passage of as bill proposing 16 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for Marathas in Maharashtra Legislature Thursday has now made the state second in the country in terms of quota quantum.

Haryana which offers 67 per cent reservations, used to be second in the list, followed by Telangana where the quantum of quota rose to 62 per cent last year, an official said.

With the passage of the Maratha quota bill, the reservation quantum in Maharashtra will rise to 68 per cent, just a per cent less than Tamil Nadu, which tops the tally with 69 per cent reservations in various categories.

In Rajasthan, the quota quantum rose to 54 per cent last year after that government increased reservations for Gujjars and four other backward communities, the official said.

Asked how Maharashtra government will defend the increase in reservations in court, the official said, "If needed, we can submit strong data supporting our decision of awarding 16 per cent quota to Marathas."

"The Supreme Court, in a 1992 order, had put a cap on reservations in government jobs and education at 50 per cent. But in an order in July 2010, it allowed states to exceed that limit, provided they had solid scientific data to justify the increase," the official said.&nbsp;

The passage of as bill proposing 16 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for Marathas in Maharashtra Legislature Thursday has now made the state second in the country in terms of quota quantum.

The passage of as bill proposing 16 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for Marathas in Maharashtra Legislature Thursday has now made the state second in the country in terms of quota quantum. Haryana which offers 67 per cent reservations, used to be second in the list, followed by Telangana where the quantum of quota rose to 62 per cent last year, an official said. With the passage of the Maratha quota bill, the reservation quantum in Maharashtra will rise to 68 per cent, just a per cent less than Tamil Nadu, which tops the tally with 69 per cent reservations in various categories. In Rajasthan, the quota quantum rose to 54 per cent last year after that government increased reservations for Gujjars and four other backward communities, the official said. Asked how Maharashtra government will defend the increase in reservations in court, the official said, "If needed, we can submit strong data supporting our decision of awarding 16 per cent quota to Marathas." "The Supreme Court, in a 1992 order, had put a cap on reservations in government jobs and education at 50 per cent. But in an order in July 2010, it allowed states to exceed that limit, provided they had solid scientific data to justify the increase," the official said.

Maharashtra now second after Tamil Nadu in quota quantum "ranking"

Even as the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-government-proposes-16-quota-for-maratha-180173">Maharashtra government</a> has asserted that reservation for the Marathas would not affect existing quotas, an OBC organisation said Thursday that it would challenge the decision in the court.

The Maharashtra legislature has unanimously passed a bill granting 16 per cent quota in education and government jobs to the Maratha community.

"The quota for Marathas will surely affect the existing OBC reservation. So we have decided to approach the court," said J D Tandel, vice president of Panvel-Uran Aagri Samaj Mandal and OBC Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti.

The ruling BJP will have to pay a heavy price for this decision in coming elections, he claimed.

Another OBC leader demanded that the government conduct a caste-wise census in the state.

"How can we believe that there are 30 per cent Marathas in the state? The number is definitely less than that, so the government should conduct a caste-wise census," said Bhushan Bare of the Kunbi Samaj Unnati Sangh.&nbsp;

Even as the Maharashtra government has asserted that reservation for the Marathas would not affect existing quotas, an OBC organisation said Thursday that it would challenge the decision in the court.

Even as the Maharashtra government has asserted that reservation for the Marathas would not affect existing quotas, an OBC organisation said Thursday that it would challenge the decision in the court. The Maharashtra legislature has unanimously passed a bill granting 16 per cent quota in education and government jobs to the Maratha community. "The quota for Marathas will surely affect the existing OBC reservation. So we have decided to approach the court," said J D Tandel, vice president of Panvel-Uran Aagri Samaj Mandal and OBC Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti. The ruling BJP will have to pay a heavy price for this decision in coming elections, he claimed. Another OBC leader demanded that the government conduct a caste-wise census in the state. "How can we believe that there are 30 per cent Marathas in the state? The number is definitely less than that, so the government should conduct a caste-wise census," said Bhushan Bare of the Kunbi Samaj Unnati Sangh.

OBC outfit to challenge Maratha reservation in court