Several organisations representing the Other Backward Classes (OBC) on Monday pressed for an urgent hearing on petitions challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision to grant Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community from Marathwada for reservation benefits.
The petitioners argued that the move has triggered anxiety among OBC youths, pointing to at least seven suicides linked to fears of losing educational and employment opportunities. Senior advocate V.D. Anturkar informed the court that while the matter was listed for October 12, the petitioners sought an earlier date. “The Maratha community, which is politically influential, has been granted reservation. We have challenged the validity of this government resolution (GR),” Anturkar said.
The bench, however, clarified that the scheduling was based on email communication and that the matter could not be heard before October 6. The pleas will now be heard by a bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad.
Earlier this week, the petitions had come up before a bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh Patil, but Justice Patil recused himself, prompting the matter to be mentioned before the Chief Justice.
Five petitions have been filed by OBC groups and representatives, including Kunbi Sena, Maharashtra Mali Samaj Mahasangh, Ahir Suvarnkar Samaj Sanstha, Sadanand Mandalik, and Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal. They contend that issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas will effectively bring them under the OBC category, reducing the reservation quota available to existing OBC communities.
In a recent incident highlighting the tensions, Bharat Karad (35) from Latur’s Renapur taluka allegedly died by suicide by jumping into the Manjara River, reportedly out of fear that OBC quotas would be impacted.
