A fresh public interest litigation (PIL) against the Maharashtra government’s decision to grant reservation for Marathas and Muslims was filed in the Bombay High Court on Friday. This is the third petition filed in the court against the decision.
The PIL filed by Anil Thanekar claims that the reservation granted to Muslims is unconstitutional as the Constitution does not permit religion-based reservation. The State government’s move is a last-ditch attempt to gain political mileage, the PIL has claimed.
“It is also excessive legislation. It takes the total reservation in the State to above 50 per cent, which is the cap put by the Supreme Court. Moreover, the legislation means there is discrimination against the people belonging to open category and other minority groups,” Ashish Mehta, lawyer for the petitioner, told The Hindu .
The PIL seeks court directions for the quashing of the government resolution (GR) which declares the reservation. It also seeks a stay on the effect of the GR till the PIL is pending in the court.
Hearing on August 5The court is slated to hear all the three PILs against Maratha and Muslim reservations on August 5.
