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Bombay High Court upholds Maratha reservation, but says 16 per cent unjustifiable

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Bombay High Court upholds Maratha reservation, but says 16 per cent unjustifiable

The Bombay High Court today (Thursday, June 27) upheld the reservation granted to Maratha community in admission to educational institutions and appointments to posts in public services, but said the 16 per cent quota was “unjustifiable”.

The Maharashtra government had decided to provide reservation in government jobs and educational institutions to Marathas yielding to demands after violent agitation by the community through July and August last year. The movement was called by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of Maratha groups.

A Bench of Justices Ranjit More and Bharti Dangre held that Maharashtra State Reservation (of Seats for Admission in Educational Institutions in the State and for Appointments to the Posts in the Public Services under the State) for Socially and Educationally Backward Category (SEBC) Act, 2018 (SEBC Act) is Constitutional.

However, the court cut down on the quantum of 16 per cent approved by the government on the grounds that it was not “justifiable”. It said that instead of the 16 percent reservation proposed by the State government, the reservation should be capped at 12 percent for jobs and 13 percent for admission to educational institutions as per the recommendation of the State Commission for Backward Classes.

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The SEBC Act was enacted pursuant to the recommendations of the State Commission for Backward Classes constituted under the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission Act, 2005 (2005 Act) and headed by retired judge, Justice MG Gaikwad.

The verdict came on a petition claiming that the Maharashtra government’s decision amounted to providing the Maratha community with “permanent crutches”. The petitioners also maintained that the reservation of 16 percent afforded to Marathas went against the ceiling limit of 50 percent prescribed by the Supreme Court judgment of Indra Sawhney v. Union of India.

The final arguments commenced on February 6, in the petitions filed by advocates Jaishri Patil, Sanjeet Shukla and Dr Uday Dhople along with others, challenging the notification published by the government on November 30, 2018, providing reservation to the community in government jobs and educational institutions.

The petitioners had contended that Supreme Court judgments mandate periodic revision of lists every ten years to exclude from such lists those classes which have ceased to be backward classes or for including in such lists new backward classes. The said exercise was not done.

They argued that the State Government has passed the SEBC Act on the basis of unquantified data and without revising the list in the light of the provisions of the existing list of backward classes.

The Gaikwad Commission report was also called into question for failing to adhere to the mandate of Indra Sawhney judgment and the Mandal Commission report.

Some of the petitioners had also contended that with the insertion of Articles 342A and 366(26) in the Constitution by way of Constitution (One Hundred and Second) Amendment Act, 2018, the power to identify and specify the socially and educationally backward classes came to be vested solely with the President and the Parliament. The 2005 Act, therefore, stood repealed by implication as it lost its existence as a result of the Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018, the petitioners had stated.

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The High Court upheld the Gaikwad Commission report and also ruled that the State government’s competence to enact the law is unaffected by the Constitution (One Hundred and Second) Amendment Act, 2018.

The court, as per media reports,said, “The state has legislative competence to give reservation to the socially and educationally backward class and the constitutional amendment of 2018 does not take away the said power of the state.”

The bench further said that the 50 percent ceiling of reservation can be crossed, when there exists extraordinary circumstances, which the state’s backward commission has shown in their report.

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The state legislature had passed a bill granting 16 per cent reservation in education and government jobs for the Marathas, declared a socially and educationally backward class by the administration, on November 30 last year. This was supposed to be in addition to the existing 52 per cent overall reservation in the state, thereby raising it to 68 per cent.

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Delhi LG VK Saxena directs probe into remarks against Kangana Ranaut by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate

The Delhi Police will investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose.

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Delhi lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena today sought a detailed probe from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in relation with the alleged defamatory social media post made by Congress’s Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut.

Reportedly, BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG seeking probe and registration of an FIR against Shrinate for outraging the modesty of a woman. Subsequently, the Delhi LG has forwarded the complaint to the Delhi Police Commissioner, directing a scientific investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary.

Reports said that the Delhi Police will also investigate who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose. A major controversy erupted on Monday after an objectionable post from Supriya Shrinate’s social media handle against Kangana Ranaut, who has been announced as the BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.

Responding to the remarks, Kangana Ranaut said that they must free the daughters from the shackles of prejudices and must rise above the curiosity about their body parts. She added that people must refrain from using sex workers’ challenging lives or circumstances as some kind of abuse or slur. She concluded that every woman deserves her dignity. As the controversy intensified, the Congress leader asserted that someone else had posted the objectionable content from her handle. 

Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory remarks against Kangana Ranaut. The Election Commission observed that the remarks are undignified and in a bad taste. The election body asked the Congress leader to respond to the commission by Friday. In the notice, the Election Commission stated that the statements made by the leader is prima facie violative of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

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Bollywood actor Govinda joins Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now.

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Bollywood actor Govinda joined Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on Thursday ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. In 2004 Govinda contested from Mumbai North Lok Sabha on a Congress ticket and earned the nickname of a giant slayer as he defeated BJP’s Ram Naik. He resigned from the party and said that he had decided to take a break from politics.

Govinda on his official induction in the party by CM Eknath Shinde said he is joining Shiv Sena and it is a blessing from God. He said he thought he would not enter politics again. Govinda said Mumbai looks cleaner and better now. He said his parents had a good relationship with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hedge met the Bollywood actor at his residence in Juhu. Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said the actor’s joining the Shiv Sena does not come with a rider. Govinda said whatever work is assigned to him, he will do it to the best of the ability. He said he was a part of the 14th Lok Sabha and has returned to politics after 14 years.

Speaking about his role in politics, the actor said he would transform the film city of Mumbai. He did not reply when he was asked about contesting elections. Govinda said everybody has seen the same level of progress in Maharashtra in the last 2 years, as it has been seen in the country in the last 10 years. He said he is going to focus on the beautification of the state and work towards the growth of art and culture.

Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora welcomed Govida into the party and said he has known the veteran Bollywood actor for almost 25 years. He recalled the 2004 election and said both of them had fought elections together.

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To browbeat, bully others is vintage Congress, says PM Modi after lawyers express concern over attempts to undermine judiciary

Lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

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PM Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party after more than 600 lawyers and some bar associations across the country wrote to the Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing concerns over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity using political and professional pressure.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote that to browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture. He recalled that five decades ago, the party itself had called for a committed judiciary, adding that they shamelessly want commitment from others for their selfish interests, but desist from any commitment towards the nation. He concluded that no wonder, 140 crore Indians are rejecting them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments followed after lawyers, including Harish Salve and Bar Council chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, wrote to CJI DY Chandrachud, alleging that a vested interest group is trying to put pressure on the judiciary and defame courts, particularly in cases of corruption involving politicians.

The lawyers said the tactics used by the vested interest group are damaging the courts and threatening democratic fabric. They stated that Chief Justice Chandrachud’s leadership is crucial in these tough times and the Supreme Court should stand strong, adding it is not the time to maintain dignified silence.

Without naming, the letter also targeted a section of lawyers and alleged they defend politicians by day and then try to influence judges through the media at night. Furthermore, they claimed that some elements are trying to influence who the judges are in their cases and spread lies on social media to put pressure on the judges to decide in a particular way.

In addition, the All Manipur Bar Association had also written to CJI DY Chandrachud highlighting the need to speak out against underhanded attacks on the judiciary on Wednesday. In its letter, the bar association said that it was extremely concerned about recent trends where vested interest groups were trying to defame the courts with frivolous logic and stale political agendas.

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