Maratha quota issue: 3-member panel to advise govt on approaching SC over, says CM Shinde

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On Monday, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde stated that a three-member committee of experts will be set up to advise the state government on the submission of a proposed curative petition in the Supreme Court (SC) in connection with the Maratha quota issue.

The Maratha community in Maharashtra has been staging protests seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

The agitation by the community intensified after quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil sat on an indefinite fast from October 25 at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna, as part of the second phase of the protest.

CM Shinde said, "An expert committee will be formed that will advise the state government on a proposed curative petition, which the state will file before the Supreme Court. The expert committee will have three retired judges."

"I do not want to go into the details of why the previous government failed to retain the Maratha reservation in the state. The Supreme Court has struck down the reservation upheld by the Bombay High Court," CM Shinde said.

The Maharashtra government has already formed a committee, headed by retired judge Sandeep Shinde, to submit a report on how to issue Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community. "The committee will submit its report tomorrow and it will be discussed in the cabinet meeting," CM Shinde said.

Activist Jarange Patil has announced that fast-unto-death protests will begin in villages across Maharashtra if the state government fails to act on the pending demand of the Maratha community.

The Maharashtra government's stated position is that it is committed to granting reservation to the Maratha community which stands legal scrutiny.

Meanwhile, Maratha reservation agitators vandalised and set the residence of NCP MLA Prakash Solanke on fire. Solanke, whose residence in Beed has been attacked by Maratha reservation protestors says, "I was inside my home when it was attacked. Fortunately, none of my family members or staff were injured. We are all safe but there is a huge loss of property due to fire."

(with inputs from agencies)