Maharashtra government on Friday filed a caveat in the Top Court on Friday to ensure that it does not go unheard in case anyone challenges the Bombay high court order that upholds the reservation to Maratha community in the state.
Earlier on Thursday, A division bench of the Bombay High Court upheld the Maratha Reservation Bill passed by Maharashtra government last year saying that bill saying that the state is within its right.
However, the court had asserted that reservation for the community should not be 16% and rather it should be cut down to 12- 13 percent as recommended by the backward commission.
The high court directed the Maharashtra government to cut down the reservation for Maratha community to 12 percent in educational institutes while 13 percent in government job appointments.
READ: Bombay High Court upholds Maratha reservation; asks govt to cut down from 16% to 12%
Last year in November, the Maharashtra Assembly passed a Maratha Reservation Bill granting 16 percent reservation to the community in jobs and Educational Institutes. Following the decision, Maharashtra was offering 68% quota in government jobs and education to benefit SCs, STs, OBCs, other minor social groups, and Marathas.
However, several petitions were filled in the court in and against the move. Those who filed the plea against the bill stated that the move will increase the reservation from 52% to 68% which is 18% more than the prescribed limit set by the Supreme Court.
Earlier this year in February, the court heard a clutch of a plea filed by the state government and the petitions filed for and against the reservation move.
The divisional Bench comprising Justice Ranjit More and Bharati Danger had on March 26 reserved the judgment after a detailed hearing.
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