State panel to study government data on Maratha reservation

The Maharashtra government will transfer data it has collected under various committees and on its own to the state commission for backward classes to analyse if the Maratha community should be given reservation in education and employment.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice GS Kulkarni said, "We are of the opinion that there need not be a positive direction from the court. There is no impediment for state to place before the commission in its own wisdom. State is at liberty to do what it wants, as permissible in law."

The state government on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that it has agreed to transfer the petitions challenging Maratha reservation to the commission.

The commission post, which was vacant since 2012 had been notified on January 4, under the chairmanship of retired Justice SB Mhase and is located in Pune.

The commission which is primarily set up to evaluate such issues does not have time constraints.

It will evaluate the status of the Maratha community based on the data provided by the government and other parties involved. Following the recommendations of the commission, it can be challenged by the parties before the court.

The government has supported the demand for 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community. In its affidavit filed earlier, it stated that it relied on several records and documents over the centuries revealing the social, educational and economic backwardness of the Maratha community as a major segment of the Shudhra class in the state.

The court also allowed the state government to extend the contract for another six months for those candidates employed for a period of 11 months under the 16 per cent quota in government employment from the open category.