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Synopsis

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra State Government’s Resolution for providing Kunbi Caste Certificates to Marathas in Maharashtra.

The PIL, filed by the Chairman of the Other Backward Class Welfare Community, Mangesh Sasane, argues that the January 26 notification issued by the Maharashtra Government was eating into the reservations of OBC by including Marathas in OBC.

The notification was issued by the government to amend the Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes and Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Rules, 2012.

The people of the Maratha Community have been protesting in the State of Maharashtra seeking Maratha Reservations in government jobs.

On January 20, 2024, Maratha Reservation Activist Jarenge Patil started marching towards Mumbai from Jalna. Patil sought Kunbi certificates to be issued to the people of the Maratha Community for availing reservation benefits.

The State Government issued a draft notification for issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas after which the strike was called off.

The PIL stated that earlier, the process of granting Kunbi certificates to Marathas was difficult, but with every agitation, the process was made easier, just to facilitate the Marathas.

The plea also stated that the Supreme Court in 2021 declared the State Government's decision to grant reservation to Marathas as unconstitutional and that now, by permitting the Marathas to get Kunbi certificates and enjoy reservation benefits, the government is providing them with a backdoor entry.

Case title: Mangesh Sasane vs State of Mahashtra