In the wake of the controversy over the political reservation for the OBCs in local civic bodies, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday decided to issue an ordinance to ensure 50% reservation cap is not violated while keeping 27% reservation for the OBCs intact.
The Cabinet cleared the amendment to be introduced in the Maharashtra Grampanchayat Act which will state that while keeping the 27% OBC reservation, it will be ensured that the reservation of all including the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the OBCs will not cross 50% limit.
The decision comes two days after the State Election Commission (SEC) announced bypolls for seats that have become vacant following the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down political reservation for the OBCs, which was crossing the 50% mark.
Review petition declined
The bypolls will be held on October 5. The State government’s review petition had been declined by the apex court.
While the all-party meeting has decided to not hold the bypolls until the OBC reservation issues is sorted out, the court last week directed that it was only the SEC which can decide on postponement of the polls.
The Opposition BJP on Wednesday held protests throughout the State claiming the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was acting against the interests of the OBCs. The Congress, which is part of the government, slammed the BJP saying it was the Central government led by the BJP which is responsible for jeopardising the OBC reservation as it did not raise the 50% limit.
“The ordinance, however, will not impact the upcoming bypolls, as the programme has already been announced. It will certainly be applicable for the next year’s mini-Assembly polls where a number of municipal corporations and zilla parishads are set to go for polls,” said Dr. Hari Narke, a scholar on OBC reservation.
Empirical data
He said the State government must immediately start working on other factors of collecting empirical data through OBC census from the State Backward Classes Commission and proving backwardness and representation of the OBCs as per the directions of the apex court. He accepted that the 50% limit might reduce some OBC seats and added that procedure laid down by the court must be followed as well.
Former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said the State government has finally acted but the action is delayed.
