Welcoming the Bombay High Court decision upholding reservation for Marathas, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that the court has upheld the competence of the legislature to formulate the Maratha quota law. “The High Court has also endorsed the quantifiable data of the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) based on which the Maratha community was declared socially and educationally backward and given quota in jobs and education. The court has upheld the extraordinary and exceptional circumstances mentioned in the SBCC report to provide quota to Marathas due to which the total reservation quantum in the State has crossed 50%,” he said in the Assembly.
Shiv Sena leader and Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam, said,“The reservation by the previous government (of Congress-NCP) could not stand judicial scrutiny. But the High Court has agreed to the validity of the quota our government has given. We are very happy.” As to the court seeking reduction in the quota percentage, Mr. Kadam said the issue will be discussed with the Chief Minister.
Maharashtra Congress Committee president Ashok Chavan said the high court verdict is a victory of peaceful agitation kick-started by the Maratha community and the sacrifices it made. “The Congress party positively supported the reservation Bill and it was the previous Congress-led State government which had taken the decision to give 16% reservation to the Maratha community. Now, we expect that the State government will ensure reservation to Dhangars and Muslim community as well,” he said.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Shashikant Shinde thanked the government, State Backward Class Commission and members of all parties for supporting the Maratha reservation Bill. “The Maratha community has shown how success can be achieved through non-violent protests. All members of both Houses of legislature came together to pass Bill as a result of which this historic victory has been achieved,” he said.
