The government of the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Tuesday (Feb 20) approved a bill to grant 10% reservation in education and government&nbsp;jobs to Marathas above the 50 per cent constitutional cap. The bill for 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community was approved by the state government headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It was tabled in the state&nbsp;legislative assembly in a special one-day session and was subsequently passed.&nbsp;

The state government has approved the Maratha reservation based on a report submitted by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC) headed by chairman Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre. 
 
The MBCC proposed a 10 per cent reservation for Marathas in education and jobs, similar to that of the previous bill brought in 2018 by the then-state government. 
 
This is the third time in a decade that the state has introduced legislation for the Maratha quota.

The Maratha reservation bill approved on Tuesday is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced by the then-Devendra Fadnavis government.

<h2>Why Marathas have been demanding&nbsp;reservation?</h2>

The government says that the Maratha community constitutes 28% of the state's population and a significant portion of Maratha families fall below the poverty line, with 21.22% holding yellow ration cards, exceeding the state average of 17.4%. 
 
A survey indicates that 94 per cent of farmer suicides in Maharashtra involve Maratha families. 
 
Moreover, 84 per cent of Maratha families do not fall under the 'progressed' category, making them eligible for reservation as outlined in the bill.

The Marathas are a historically dominant community in the state of Maharashtra, the official language of which (Marathi) derives its name from the warrior community. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Maratha Empire spanned 80 per cent territory of modern-day India and was a major military and political force even the British had to make great efforts to subdue before establishing colonial reign over India. 
 
Watch | India: Maharashtra cabinet approves 'Maratha Quota Bill'

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The bill was tabled in the legislature during a special session called after months of agitation led by Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil, who&nbsp;is currently on a hunger strike in Jalna district of Maharashtra.

Maharashtra already offers a 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and the Maratha&nbsp;community has been the biggest beneficiary of this in the past.

MBCC submitted a report on the social and educational backwardness of the Maratha community after what it said was a survey of 25 million households in the state in a span of just nine days. Critics of the survey allege that the number of households visited is not as high as it is being described.

This is not the first time Maratha reservation has been approved by the Maharashtra government. In 2014, the then-state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan approved a 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and promulgated an ordinance. But the measure was stayed by the Bombay High Court.

In 2018, the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act was passed by the government headed by then-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sixteen per cent reservation was granted.

<h2>Legal battle ahead?</h2>

Attempts by state governments to introduce reservations for Marathas have faced legal challenges, with previous efforts being struck down by courts. However, the persistence of protests and the political significance of the Maratha community have led to repeated revivals of this sensitive issue, given that the community constitutes a significant portion of Maharashtra's population. 
 
In 2021, the Supreme Court invalidated reservations for Marathas in college admissions and employment in Maharashtra citing a lack of exceptional circumstances to justify breaching the 50% cap on overall reservations. Despite the rejection of a review plea, the state government pursued a curative petition in its quest to uphold Maratha reservations.

(With inputs from agencies)

The government of the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Tuesday (Feb 20) approved a bill to grant 10% reservation in education and government jobs to Marathas above the 50 per cent constitutional cap.

The government of the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Tuesday (Feb 20) approved a bill to grant 10% reservation in education and government jobs to Marathas above the 50 per cent constitutional cap. The bill for 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community was approved by the state government headed by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It was tabled in the state legislative assembly in a special one-day session and was subsequently passed. The state government has approved the Maratha reservation based on a report submitted by the Maharashtra Backward Class Commission (MBCC) headed by chairman Justice (Retired) Sunil Shukre. The MBCC proposed a 10 per cent reservation for Marathas in education and jobs, similar to that of the previous bill brought in 2018 by the then-state government. This is the third time in a decade that the state has introduced legislation for the Maratha quota. The Maratha reservation bill approved on Tuesday is similar to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, introduced by the then-Devendra Fadnavis government. Why Marathas have been demanding reservation? The government says that the Maratha community constitutes 28% of the state's population and a significant portion of Maratha families fall below the poverty line, with 21.22% holding yellow ration cards, exceeding the state average of 17.4%. A survey indicates that 94 per cent of farmer suicides in Maharashtra involve Maratha families. Moreover, 84 per cent of Maratha families do not fall under the 'progressed' category, making them eligible for reservation as outlined in the bill. The Marathas are a historically dominant community in the state of Maharashtra, the official language of which (Marathi) derives its name from the warrior community. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the Maratha Empire spanned 80 per cent territory of modern-day India and was a major military and political force even the British had to make great efforts to subdue before establishing colonial reign over India. Watch | India: Maharashtra cabinet approves 'Maratha Quota Bill' × The bill was tabled in the legislature during a special session called after months of agitation led by Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil, who is currently on a hunger strike in Jalna district of Maharashtra. Maharashtra already offers a 10 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and the Maratha community has been the biggest beneficiary of this in the past. MBCC submitted a report on the social and educational backwardness of the Maratha community after what it said was a survey of 25 million households in the state in a span of just nine days. Critics of the survey allege that the number of households visited is not as high as it is being described. This is not the first time Maratha reservation has been approved by the Maharashtra government. In 2014, the then-state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan approved a 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and promulgated an ordinance. But the measure was stayed by the Bombay High Court. In 2018, the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act was passed by the government headed by then-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Sixteen per cent reservation was granted. Legal battle ahead? Attempts by state governments to introduce reservations for Marathas have faced legal challenges, with previous efforts being struck down by courts. However, the persistence of protests and the political significance of the Maratha community have led to repeated revivals of this sensitive issue, given that the community constitutes a significant portion of Maharashtra's population. In 2021, the Supreme Court invalidated reservations for Marathas in college admissions and employment in Maharashtra citing a lack of exceptional circumstances to justify breaching the 50% cap on overall reservations. Despite the rejection of a review plea, the state government pursued a curative petition in its quest to uphold Maratha reservations. (With inputs from agencies)

India: Maratha reservation bill passed unanimously in Maharashtra assembly

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

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India: Maratha reservation bill passed unanimously in Maharashtra assembly

Supreme Court to start final hearing on pleas challenging Maratha reservation