Governor approves ordinance on Maratha, Muslim reservation in Maharashtra

Decks have been cleared for Maharashtra government to issue an ordinance to provide reservations to Marathas and Muslims with the Governor on Wednesday putting his stamp of approval on the proposal.

Official sources said Governor K Sankaranarayanan signed a notification paving the way for promulgating an ordinance to implement the Cabinet's June 26, 2014 decision to provide 16 per cent reservation for Marathas and 5 per cent for Muslim communities in jobs and educational institutions.

The move by the Congress-NCP government came just a few months ahead of the assembly elections and after the severe drubbing it received in Lok Sabha polls.

With the additional 21 per cent quotas for the politically influential Maratha community and Muslims, reservation in government jobs and educational institutions in the state has gone up to 73 per cent, way beyond the 50 per cent limit set by the Supreme Court.

The Bombay High Court is currently hearing a PIL against the government's decision.