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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to take appropriate steps to grant reservation to the Maratha community in the state albeit the following law to the minimum extent of 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in public employment.
Giving a bird’s eye view to the Prime Minister on the issue, the chief minister said that there has been a long-standing demand in Maharashtra for providing reservation to the Maratha community both in education and public employment.
“The Maratha community has been agitating for reservation under the constitution; the same reached its peak in the year 2017-2018”, he mentioned.
He said, initially the government issued an ordinance on 9th July 2014 providing 16 per cent reservation in favour of the Maratha community.
“However on 14th November 2014, the Bombay High court granted stay, which was later on confirmed by the Supreme Court”, he said.
Thackeray said the ordinance was converted into an Act of 2015 by the Maharashtra State Legislature on 23rd December 2014 to which the Governor of Maharashtra granted assent on 9th January 2015.
He further explained in his letter that on 14th, August 2018, National Commission for Backward Class Act 1993 was repealed and on 15th August 2018, the 102nd constitutional amendment was effected by inserting into the constitution articles 338B, 342A and 366 (26C) and by the very same amendment article 338 (10) was also appropriately amended.
“Both the houses of the Maharashtra legislature unanimously enacted the Maharashtra state social and educationally backward class (Admission in educational institutions in the state and for posts of appointments in public service and posts) Reservation Act, 2018, (the Act), which was published in the Gazette on 30th November 2018. By the Act, 16 per cent reservation was provided in favour of the Maratha community in Maharashtra both in education and public employment.
He concluded by saying that the majority view of the Supreme Court, it is the President that is the Union Government alone which can identify and notify the Maratha community of Maharashtra as SEBC, enabling it to enjoy reservations in education and public employment.
The CM said that he earnestly request the Prime Minister that appropriate steps were taken albeit following law declared by the Supreme Court to identify and declare the Maratha community of Maharashtra as SEBC to enable them to claim the reservation in education and public employment at least to the extent of 12 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
A delegation led by CM meets Governor
Later in the evening, a delegation led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari urging the President and Centre to take steps to facilitate reservation to the Maratha community.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, the CM said that the Centre should pay attention to the issue and take steps at the earliest. He said, he has written to President Ramnath Kovind and the letter was handed over to Governor Koshyari.
He said the state government would soon seek the appointment of the Prime Minister to discuss the issue with him.
Thackeray said that Governor gave the delegation a patient hearing and he would convey our sentiments to the Central government.
