Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday sought the Maharashtra government's stand on whether the issue of quota in government jobs and educational institutions for the Marathas should be heard by a commission, set up recently.
A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice G S Kulkarni asked the state government to make its stand "crystal clear" on the issue.
The bench gave the direction while hearing a bunch of pleas challenging the previous Congress-NCP government’s 2014 decision to grant 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to the Maratha community.
A bunch of applications have also been filed in the high court supporting the reservation.
On the last hearing, the petitioners had told the court that the issue could be heard and decided by the newly formed Maharashtra State Commission For Backward Classes.
The state government had orally told the court that it has no objection if the matter is referred to the commission.
"We want the government to make its stand crystal clear. Should the matter be referred to the commission or not?" Chief Justice Chellur said.
The bench directed the government to file an affidavit and posted the matter for further hearing on May 4.
The commission was formed and its chairman and members were appointed as per a government resolution issued in January this year.
