Maratha quota bill gets state governor's nod

Mumbai: Two days after the state Legislature passed the Maratha reservation bill, governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao signed it on Friday. The Maharashtra government issued the notification late night Friday, meaning that the Act came into force from December 1, paving the way for reservation for the Marathas.

Earlier this fortnight, chief minister Devend-ra Fadnavis had asked the Maratha community to prepare for celebrati-ons on December 1. A bi-ll proposing 16 per cent reservation for the Mar-athas under the socially and educationally backward category had been passed by the state without a discussion.

Virendra Pawar, leader of the Maratha Morcha, said, “This is a welcome call. If it is challenged in the high court, the government should ensure that the court does not strike down the act. This time, things should not be repeated as it was done by the previous government. It is the duty of the government that the people get the benefit of the act. In addition to this, the implementation of the act will not be affected by legal challenges.”

From December 1, the Marathas will get 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the newly-created independent and separate category, socially and educationally backward class (SEBC).

Currently, there is 52 per cent reservation in state, to which 16 per cent will be added, making it a total 68 per cent.

Shravan Devre, leader of Other Backward Classes (OBCs), said that justice could not be meted out to the OBC community by going to court over the issue.