Maharashtra government appointed the State Backward Class Commission headed by Justice MG Gaikwad (retired) had received 1.90 lakh applications and report from five social organisations for Maratha reservations.
According to Gaikwad, the commission had visited all the districts of Maharashtra in the last seven months to collect requests and applications from various groups for reservations. "We will study all social and economic details of the report and will classify the information on factual basis. We are not here to include our individual opinion in the report," Gaikwad said.
He further said that the ten members commission has been formed with officials from diverse fields. "We will study previous judgments of courts. If needed, we may help of experts in Sociology and religious studies. The report will then be submitted in the next two-three months. We don't have pressure from the state government or any political party to submit the report early. This is a huge task, and it will take time. It cannot be filed in a hurry," said Gaikwad.
In Maharashtra, Other Backward Community has 19 per cent, Scheduled Caste has 13 per cent, Scheduled Tribe has 7 per cent, Nomadic Tribe (C) has 3.5 per cent, Nomadic Tribe (D) has 2 per cent and Special Backward Class has 2 per cent reservation. It makes up to 52 per cent reservations in jobs, while 50 per cent in education. The Marathas have been demanding 16 per cent quota in education and employment. If conceded, this will breach the 50 per cent cap on reservations set by the judiciary.
Therefore, the state government will have to make an amendment in Schedule 9 of the Indian constitution, only then it will sustain in the court of law.
The Maratha community has been agitating for last eight days. The government transport buses, police vehicles and private buses were burned to press the demand for reservations. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that once the government receives the report from the commission, it will call for a special session of the Maharashtra state assembly.
Sources said if the commission report fails to prove social and economic backwardness of the community, it will depend upon the state government whether to accept the report or not. "The commission cannot be influenced. It is an independent authority and functions autonomously," said sources requesting anonymity.
Last week, the BJP, Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress leaders met the commission and requested to it to submit the report as early as possible in the light of the volatile situation in Maharashtra.
WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY
- The commission headed by Justice MG Gaikwad cant be influenced. It is án independent authority and functions autonomously
- If it fails to prove social-economic backwardness of the community, it will be state government’s call to accept the report or not
