A few minutes after the Bombay High Court adjourned the hearing for a bunch of petitions — some challenging and some in support — on the 16 per cent reservation granted to the Maratha community, Advocate Gunratan Sadavarte appearing for one of the petitioners opposing the reservation, was manhandled by an alleged Maratha community member.
Sadavarte rushed back to the bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice M S Karnik, informing them about the ordeal and also about the threatning phone calls he has been receiving for the past few days. The bench asked Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni to look into the matter and consider providing the victim and his family police protection.
Kumbhakoni assured the court that immediate round the clock protection will be granted and such incidents will not be allowed when the case is pending and sub-judiced under the High Court.
On Monday, in a hearing which lasted over an hour, the court suggested to the state on whether it would make the report submitted by the Backward Class Commissions, recommending grant of reservation in employment and education for the members of the Maratha community, public. Further, whether it would temporarily hold the appointment for government jobs, under the Socially Economically Backward class, till the order of the court.
The court also asked the state to clarify its stand on why in the earlier bill of 2014, five per cent reservation was granted to the Muslim community but, not in the present one. To this, advocate V Thorat appearing for the state argued that it was the government's decision, based on data available, to grant reservation to a particular community.
The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on December 19. The bunch of petitions that challenge the reservation primarily raise two major points. Firstly, the Supreme Court ruling has capped the reservations to be granted to a maximum of 50 per cent. Secondly, the reservation granted is unconstitutional.