Keypoints:
- CM Thackeray has requested the Centre to step in immediately and look after the quota issue for Maratha Community.
- On Wednesday, 5th May, Supreme Court denied scrapping 50% ceiling limit on educational institutions and Government jobs for the Maratha community.
- “States have no power to add any caste to socially economically backward caste list due to the amendment made by parliament,” the Supreme Court observed.
Hours after the Supreme Court took decision on terming the Maratha quota as invalid, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reacted on the issue and said that the decision cannot be welcomed. He urged the Centre and the President of India to take decision on Maratha quota.
“As per the SC, the state does not have the right to take decisions on reservation, but it is the prime minister and the President of India. Hence, with folded hands I urged the prime minister and the President to take a decision on the Maratha quota. In the past, the centre has taken decisions in Shah Bano case, Atrocities Act, and abrogation of Article 370 and made necessary amendments in the Indian constitution. Now the centre should show the same quickness in Maratha reservation issue,” said Thackeray.
Thackeray also said that the people should not get provoked and he appealed that no one should try to disturb the law and order situation in the state. He said that, “The legal battle for the Maratha quota will continue till the community gets reservation.”
Just after the Supreme Court took the decision, Thackeray held a meeting which included members of the state cabinet sub-committee for Maratha reservation, state chief secretary and advocate general (AG) in order to discuss the Maratha quota issue and to explore few options to compensate Maratha quota to some extent.
As an alternative for Maratha quota, states may come up with schemes and concessions and at the same time state may consider to file a review petition before the HC.
