Bombay HC expresses ire on statewide Maratha reservation protests

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Tuesday expressed concern over the agitations carried out in the state for Maratha reservation. The state government has informed the Bombay high court that till November 15 the state backward class commission would hand over its report to the state government. The court expressed concern over suicides committed throughout the state. The court also asked the Maratha community to maintain peace and resist from taking extreme steps. The court told the state to think sensitively.

The court said it had read news reports of several agitators having committed suicide and that it was “very concerned”. “They must remember that human life is very valuable and cannot be lost just like that,” the bench said.

A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Anuja Prabhudesai was hearing a plea filed by Vinod Patil seeking reservation and directions to the backward classes commission to submit its recommendations to the state on entitlement of such quota expeditiously.

Accordingly, the state government has filed a report before the court. Special government pleader Ravi Kadam informed the court that the commission has appointed five agencies to collect data pertaining to economic, educational and social conditions of the Marathas from the various district of the state.

The agencies completed the public survey till July 30. He also said that the five agencies would segregate voluminous documents till September 5.

Mr Kadam also said that after the bifurcation, commission-appointed experts would examine the documents and send recommendations to the backward class commission and thereafter the commission would come to the conclusion and submit its report to the state government and the process would be completed in November.

The court then asked the state why the commission has taken such a long time. Considering the situation in the state, the commission should complete its work fast.

Mr Kadam said that enough time needs to be granted to the commission so that it’s done accurately.

Mr Kadam argued that purpose of the petition was to ask for a status report from the backward class commission. But the court refused to dispose of the petition saying it would monitor the case till the report is filed and slated the hearing for September 10.