Maratha quota Bill, ATR to be tabled in Maharashtra Legislature
The much-awaited draft Bill, which provides for reservation to the Maratha community will be tabled in the Maharashtra Legislature today. A two-page Action Taken Report (ATR) on the State Backward Class Commission's (SBCC) recommendations will also be tabled. The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30% of the state's population, has been demanding quota for a long time and its protests turned violent this year.
Winter Session may be extended to pass bill: Revenue minister
The meeting over the issue of the state Cabinet sub-committee, headed by Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, was held yesterday evening. Patil had said in the Legislative Council that the ongoing Winter session of the state Legislature may be extended, if needed, to pass the Bill. According to the current schedule, the Winter session, which began in Mumbai on November-19, will conclude on November-30.
Maratha reservation under new category without mixing with existing quotas?
The Cabinet sub-committee was formed last week to study the SBCC's report. The government had received the report on November 15 and it was placed before the Cabinet on November 18 for approval. The government proposes to provide reservation to Marathas under a new category, called the 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class', without disturbing the existing quotas for SCs, STs and OBCs, sources said.
Previous state govt granted 16% Maratha-reservation, order stayed by HC
The previous Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) coalition government had granted 16% reservation to Marathas in jobs and education, but it was stayed by the Bombay High Court. The Congress and the NCP have been demanding tabling of the SBCC reports and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' report on reservation to the Dhangar (shepherd) community, who demands reservation under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
