‘SC verdict on Maratha quota a win for meritorious students of Maharashtra’

Dr Anil Laddhad, president of the SMSN

The Supreme Court verdict to strike down reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Marathas in Maharashtra is a major win for meritorious students. Members of the organisation - Save Merit, Save the Nation - started by students and parents fighting for merit in education, have said they are relieved. A few members of SMSN were among the petitioners against the reservation in the Supreme Court. The organisation was also up in arms against the reservation, since it crossed the constitutionally allowed threshold of maximum reservation of 50 per cent, leading to scarcity of seats for students from the open category.

"There has been a lot of beating around the bush over political agendas. The judgment puts an end to all this chaos. Two batches have faced the consequences of this unjustified reservation policy but it is important to now move on with a fair platform for coming admissions," said Sudha Shenoy, executive president of the SMSN, which was formed in the year 2019. She added, "Nobody is against a certain community but we have to adhere to the constitutional norms regarding this. We cannot have more than 50 per cent of seats going for students coming from reserved categories. This is clear denial to meritorious students."

"The reservation under Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota is also pending before court, as that too led to the reservation percentage going beyond permitted limit," she added further also suggesting that the organisation will continue to fight for merit in education, especially in higher education. Shenoy said, "The focus will now be on doing away with reservation from PG medical admissions as by then all students are at equal platform academically as well as financially. Moreover, we also have to look at creamy layer implementation in all forms of reservations and periodical review of each set of reservation policies to see if it needs continuation."

A people's movement, the SMSN began especially after issues in medical admissions of availability of very few seats in open category after reserved seats crossed 70 per cent, since implementation of Maratha reservation.

‘Will keep watch'

Dr Anil Laddhad, president of the SMSN, said, "The organisation's legal cell will remain active constantly to keep vigil on all institutions and governments to see that the verdict is followed without confusion. So many students have suffered because of the political game. A certain set of society was given unrealistic hopes in spite of knowing that there is no such provision in the scope of law."