Implementation of 16 per cent quota in jobs and eduto Maratha community in Maharashtra will be possible only after the high court examines the backwardness and eligibility of reservation. It also will depend on whether the Maharashtra Commission for Backward Classes (MCBC) has followed legal procedure while making its recommendations. Organisations representing the Maratha community hinted that high court will have to examine the case afresh in view of the Constitutional amendment passed by the parliament to provide 10 per cent reservation for poor among upper castes as it will be above 50 per cent quota limit set by the Supreme Court.
Rajendra Kondhare, Akhil Bhartiya Maratha Mahasangh general secretary said that the reservation benefits will be possible only after the legal scrutiny, adding that, the entire process will be time consuming. ''The government however, needs to share the MCBC's report with the court at the earliest. Thereafter, the court will give instructions to share the report with the petitioner and interveners. This will be helpful for us to file affidavit as intervener," he informed.
Reservation expert Dr Balasaheb Sarate said that the high court will scrutinise the quantifiable data and MCBC's decision to recommend reservation to Marathas in an exceptional and extraordinary circumstances. ''The judicial scrutiny has begun with the high court deciding to hear the case on day-to-day basis from February 6. However, the court will have to give its ruling after examining the objections raised by the petitioner relating to the validity of the MCBC's report and excessiveness of reservation to Marathas above 52 per cent of the state's quota size,'' he noted.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM), which spearheaded the agitation for quota to Maratha community, alleged that the state government was playing with the emotions of the community by not releasing the advertisement on mega recruitment for 70,000 posts. MKM coordinator Vinod Patil said,''The government has not prohibited the state government from issuing advertisement in this regard. It is delaying the issue. However, one positive thing is that the high court has not stayed act passed by the state legislature to provide quota in jobs and education to Maratha community,'' he added.
Organisations representing Maratha community hinted that high court will have to examine the case afresh in view of the Constitutional amendment passed by the parliament.