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The Maharashtra government on Tuesday said a decision on tabling the State Backward Class Commission’s report on the Maratha quota in the State Assembly will be taken after seeking a legal opinion.
The government also said it was committed to provide reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
Chaos was witnessed in the Assembly on the second day of the winter session with the opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) members lifting the speaker’s mace and tearing papers while demanding that the commission’s report be tabled in the Lower House.
They also criticised the BJP-led government over the drought situation in the State, alleging that it was not handled properly.
The din led to the House being adjourned four times.
Commissions’ recommendations
Amid the noise, Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said the State Cabinet has accepted the commission’s recommendations on the Maratha quota to form a special category of ‘Socially and Economically Backward Class’ (SEBC).
“We will check whether the recommendations if challenged, will stand legal scrutiny and then decide on whether to table the report in the House,” he said.
He said a Cabinet sub-committee set up for the implementation of the Maratha quota will take a legal opinion on whether the commission’s report can be tabled in the Legislature.
“The commission has recognised the Maratha community as socially, economically and educationally backward. Since the situation is extraordinary, the limit of reservation can be beyond 52 per cent,” he said, adding the government will ensure that the reservation stands in court.
Background
The Maharashtra government Sunday announced the Maratha community will be granted quota under a new category called ‘Socially and Educationally Backward Class’, as per the recommendation of the State Backward Class Commission.
The government is yet to decide the quantum of reservation, though the Marathas are seeking 16 per cent quota.
Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil demanded the commission’s report be immediately tabled in the House for clarity.
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