Maha may have to consult national panel before it grants Maratha quota

MUMBAI: The state government may have one more step to take before it grants reservation to Marathas in government jobs and education under a possibly expanded OBC (Other Backward Classes) category. A constitutional amendment bill passed last year by the Centre states that “the Union and every state government shall consult the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) on all major policy matters affecting the socially and educationally backward classes.”

The amendment was in Section 338B (9) of the NCBC Act, 1993, and was passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. It came into force this year. It makes it compulsory for all state governments to consult the NCBC before taking big decisions on matters related to the backward classes.

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has said all legal formalities on the issue of giving a quota to the Maratha community would be completed by November end. The State Backward Classes Commission has already concluded that the Marathas are socially and economically backward. Addressing a public meeting at Shani Shingnapur on Thursday, the day the commission submitted its report to state chief secretary DK Jain, Fadnavis remarked that the Maratha community should get ready to rejoice on December 1.

The state panel’s report has been forwarded to the social justice department as well as the law and judiciary department for study. Both departments have been busy discussing the conclusions and recommendations of the report so that they can draft the note intended to be tabled before the cabinet meeting to be held on Sunday evening, a day before the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature begins in Mumbai.

When a senior official of the social justice department was asked if any consultation had taken place with the NCBC, he said, “Not yet. We cannot comment on anything unless the state cabinet comes to a conclusion about the reservation.”

The Maratha community would not be included in the Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, so it may be incorporated into the OBC category, which will be expanded to increase the percentage of quota so that the quota for other sections is not infringed upon.

The 123rd constitutional amendment has granted constitutional status to the NCBC on par with the national commissions for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. It is empowered to investigate and monitor how safeguards provided to the backward classes under the Constitution are in place, inquire into complaints regarding violation of rights and advise and make recommendations on socio-economic development of such classes.

Aabasaheb Patil, one of the convenors of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, put the onus on the government. He said, “Now it is the responsibility of the state government to complete all legal and technical formalities so that the reservation stands.”