After three years, Maharashtra passes a bill granting Marathas 10% reservation in government jobs and education. This is the third attempt in a decade to address their concerns. Marathas, a significant community in Maharashtra, have historically held influence but felt sidelined. Previous efforts, including a 2018 Act, didn't fully satisfy their demands. With elections looming in 2024, some view this move as political maneuvering, while others await potential legal challenges.
#Maharashtra #MarathaReservationBill #CMeknathShinde #Shinde #DevendraFadnavis #BJP #ShivSena #Supremecourt #Marathacommunity #Marathanews #Marathi #Maharashtranews #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindia News
~HT.99~PR.152~ED.101~
#Maharashtra #MarathaReservationBill #CMeknathShinde #Shinde #DevendraFadnavis #BJP #ShivSena #Supremecourt #Marathacommunity #Marathanews #Marathi #Maharashtranews #Worldnews #Oneindia #Oneindia News
~HT.99~PR.152~ED.101~
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Alright, so nearly three years after the former Maratha reservation was struck down by the
00:12 Supreme Court, Maharashtra Assembly today unanimously passed a bill reintroducing the
00:17 10% reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education.
00:22 The bill, almost similar to the 2018 Act, aims to address the long-standing demands
00:27 and historical injustice faced by the Maratha community in Maharashtra.
00:31 In a special session of the state legislature, the Mahayati government, led by CM Eknath
00:36 Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, approved the bill.
00:40 This marks the third time, the third attempt in a decade to legislate the Maratha quota,
00:46 reflecting the persistent demand of representation and economic opportunities within the community.
00:51 The Maratha reservation has been a contentious issue in Maharashtra, fuelled by concerns for job displacement
00:58 and economic competition from immigrants.
01:00 However, unlike the Haryana's blanket job reservation, the Maratha quota specifically
01:05 focuses on the Maratha community, a socially and economically diverse group constituting
01:11 one-third of the state's population.
01:14 Historically identified as a dominant and affluent agricultural community, the Marathas
01:19 have faced marginalisation and economic challenges in recent decades.
01:24 The previous attempts at reservation, including the 2014 Ordinance and the 2018 Act, have
01:29 failed to address the underlying issues, leading to widespread protest and unrest.
01:34 However, the Koperdi rape and murder case in 2016 specifically roused the Maratha community,
01:41 sparking massive protest and demand for the reservation across the state of Maharashtra.
01:47 The subsequent Backward Class Commission findings confirmed the socio-economic backwardness
01:52 of the Maratha community, leading to the enactment of the 2018 Act, albeit with modifications
01:58 by the Bombay High Court in 2019.
02:01 But a big shocker came in 2021, when a five-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court,
02:07 head by Justice Ashok Bhushan, struck down the provisions of the Maharashtra law providing
02:12 reservation to the Maratha community, which took the total quota of the state above 50
02:18 percent, ceiling which is set by the 1992 Indira Sani Mandal judgment.
02:24 In November 2022, after the Supreme Court upheld the 10 percent quota for the economically
02:30 weaker section of the state, the state government said that until the issue of Maratha reservation
02:35 is resolved, economically weaker members of the community can still benefit from the EWS
02:41 quota.
02:42 But now the government has decided to reintroduce the bill specifically for the Maratha people,
02:47 and so the bill has been passed once again.
02:50 The recent passage of the Maratha Reservation Bill underscores the political significance
02:54 addressing the community's grievances.
02:56 However, it also raises questions about the timing and motives, with some viewing it as
03:01 a pre-election maneuvering ahead of the 2024 general elections.
03:05 However, one must note that critics still argue that the legislation may face legal
03:10 challenges echoing the concern raised during the previous attempts.
03:13 Despite assurances from the Chief Minister, Eknat Shinde himself regarding the bill's
03:17 legality, the implementation and potential judicial scrutiny still remains uncertain.
03:23 While the Maratha quota aims to rectify the historical injustice and provide equitable
03:28 opportunities, the efficacy and impact of the governance and administration are yet
03:33 to be seen.
03:34 With constantly shifting political alliances and community dynamics, the future of Maratha
03:38 politics and Maharashtra still remains fluid and contingent on legal, social and electoral
03:45 developments.
03:46 -END-
03:47 (dramatic music)
03:50 [BLANK_AUDIO]