Maharashtra seeks HC nod to fill posts on temporary basis

Mumbai: The government of Maharashtra has recently moved an application before the Bombay high court seeking permission to fill and renew 16 per cent posts on temporary basis. The state has said that since petitions pertaining to Maratha reservation are pending before the court and contracts of 16 per cent posts, which were filled from open category on temporary basis, have either ended or are coming to an end, hence the government should be allowed to again fill these posts on temporary basis.

All the parties concerned in this matter have been asked to file reply on the government’s application. Advocate Sanjeet Shukla, who is opposing any kind of reservation to anybody including Maratha community, said, “We would request the court to direct the state to make these 16 per cent employees permanent.” Mr Shukla said eligible candidates have been appointed on these 16 per cent posts on ad-hoc basis but if they are qualified and suitable for these posts, then they should be made permanent.

The state of Maharashtra through a Government Resolution (GR) had granted 16 per cent reservation to Maratha community saying that it is educationally and socially backward. But a bunch of petitions were filed opposing and supporting the reservation to Maratha community and while hearing these petitions, the high court had stayed the reservation on April 7, 2015.

While granting stay on reservation to Maratha community, the court had also observed, “No useful purpose will be served by keeping the teaching posts in educational institutions or other service vacant.”