Supreme Court rules on Maratha reservation in admission and jobs in educational institutions

New delhi date. 09 September 2020, Wednesday

The Supreme Court has barred Maratha reservation in admissions and jobs in educational institutions. "Currently, it cannot be allowed," the apex court bench said. The case will be decided by a large bench, which will be constituted by the Chief Justice. The court also clarified that the order will not affect the admission of postgraduate medical courses which have already taken place.

Hearing the case, Justice L. N. A bench headed by Rao said the decision would not affect the status of those who have taken advantage of the quota so far. Those people have been relieved by this court order. Who have benefited from this quota so far in the last almost two years.

The court's decision will not benefit the current academic session's student quota. It is currently under rock and its validity will be decided by a constitutional bench, the bench said. A constitutional bench means a bench of 5 or more judges, to be decided by Chief Justice SA Bobde.

In Maharashtra, the Social and Educational Backward Classes Act was approved in 2018 under the leadership of the then BJP government. Under this Act, OBC reservation was decided to include Maratha communities in the backward class.

Earlier in June 2019, the Bombay High Court upheld the law, although the Supreme Court had said that the quota in jobs should not exceed 12%, except that the limit for admission to educational institutions should be fixed at 13%.