‘Quota granted in light of Maratha’s current situation’

Mumbai: Petitioners who are in support of the 16 per cent quota for Marathas in government jobs and education argued before the Bombay high court that reservation has been given in the current situation of Marathas; in future, the government may include other communities in the 16 per cent quota given to Marathas.

The petitioners also argued that reservation had been given for a very limited purpose. Marathas will not get promotion in government services like other backward communities.

A division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Bharti Dangre was hearing a bunch of PILs filed against the 16 per cent reservation given by the state government to the Maratha community. While a few petitions challenged the government's move, several others were filed in support of it.

The high court has already heard the arguments of the petitioners who are opposing reservation and the state government. It is now is hearing the arguments of those who support reservation.

Senior counsel Rafique Dada, who was representing one of the petitioners, argued that the government's decision to create a separate group for Marathas as a socially and economically backward caste (SEBC) was right.

If the government had included Marathas in the other backward class (OBC) category, the beneficiaries would be more than the percentage of those receiving reservation.

The petitioners argued that as per the amended Article 102 of the Constitution, all the rights of reservation has been given to President of India but article 103 has given powers to the state government. The arguments will be continued on Monday.