Backward class panel's survey for Maratha quota to end just before midnight on Friday

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The survey being carried out by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission in connection with the Maratha quota will end just before midnight on Friday and would not be extended, reported news agency PTI.

In a letter to all district collectors and municipal commissioners on Thursday, the MSBCC said, "The software (APK) used for this survey will be shut at 2359 hours (11:59 pm) on Friday. There will not be any extension given to the survey. Thus, no such demand should be made," reported PTI.

"The officials concerned should inform all the enumerators to complete their survey tomorrow within the stipulated time. The commission should be informed about the completion of the report by 10 am on February 3 by submitting a certificate," the MSBCC added in the letter, reported PTI.

The survey is being carried out to support the state government's curative petition filed in the Supreme Court in connection with the Maratha quota.

Earlier, on January 27, activist Manoj Jarange called off his indefinite fast for Maratha quota after the Maharashtra government accepted his demands, with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announcing that till Marathas get reservation, they will be given all the benefits enjoyed by the OBCs.

But a draft notification issued by the government following negotiations with Jarange, stating that blood relatives of a Maratha person, who has records to show that he belongs to the agrarian Kunbi community, would also be recognised as Kunbi, evoked criticism from senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal who questioned the "backdoor entry" of Marathas into the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, reported PTI.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis tried to assuage concerns of the OBCs, stating that Marathas would not get Kunbi caste certificate without any proof.

Jarange had launched his fast at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, a satellite city of Mumbai, on January 26, in the presence of thousands of his supporters.

He had set out on a protest march from his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna. The 40-year-old activist originally planned to stage a hunger strike at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai from January 26.

Marathas, the largest community in the state, have dominated Maharashtra's politics for decades. The state government had earlier passed a law to provide quota to them in jobs and education, but it was struck down by the Supreme Court in May 2021, stating that there were no grounds to justify breach of the 50 per cent cap on overall reservation.

(With inputs from PTI)