The Maharashtra government has extended the term of the Justice Sandeep Shinde committee until June 2025 to decide on issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members, following protests and demands for OBC reservation access.
File Pic
The Maharashtra government has granted an extension to the Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde committee, which was formed by the previous administration to decide the methodology for issuing "Kunbi" caste certificates to Maratha community members.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to the latest government order, the committee's term has been extended until June 30, 2025.
This six-month extension comes 43 days after the previous term expired on December 31, 2024.
The panel was initially appointed by the Eknath Shinde-led government in September 2023 in response to the growing demand for granting Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Maratha individuals.
The primary aim of issuing these certificates is to enable Marathas to avail themselves of Other Backward Class (OBC) reservations in jobs and educational institutions.
The Maratha community, traditionally an agrarian group, has long sought recognition under the Kunbi caste, which is categorised as OBC.
However, the move has faced considerable opposition from OBC leaders in the state, who argue that such inclusion would reduce the share of reservation available to their communities.
This controversy has sparked widespread debate and protests, particularly from Maratha leaders who feel they are being denied fair access to OBC benefits.
Maratha quota: Shinde committee gets extension till April 30
The Maharashtra government has given extension till April 30 to the Sandeep Shinde committee, set up last year to scrutinise Kunbi records of the Maratha community, reported news agency PTI.
The committee was formed on September 7, 2023.
In response to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's demand that Marathas be given Kunbi caste certificates (so that they can avail of OBC quota), the government had said those Marathas who can produce old records where they or their ancestors are identified as Kunbi-Maratha shall be issued such certificates, reported PTI.
A Government Resolution (GR) on Wednesday said the committee will require two more months as it has to visit Hyderabad to obtain Nizam-era records and also check the archaeological records in Maharashtra, reported PTI.
A bill granting 10 per cent reservation to the Maratha community members in government jobs and education was passed in a special session of the state legislature last month, reported PTI.
Some persons have filed petitions in the Bombay High Court seeking an interim stay on the Maharashtra government's move.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations of conspiracy and violence during the Maratha quota stir in Maharashtra. Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik will be the head of the SIT, reported ANI.
The SIT was formed on the instructions of the Maharashtra assembly speaker after the matter of threats issued to Deputy Chief Minister Fadanvis was raised in the Assembly by BJP MLAs.
On February 28, speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, CM Eknath Shinde said "Many leaders have become big on the issue of Martha reservation, Jarange patil raised demands for Maratha reservation he didn't had any political background and even I went to him. Keeping all the protocols aside I visited him twice. But now he is making remarks against DCM, our ministers and on the government... why? He is using low level language against the DCM, this language is not of karaykarta it's a political language. There are many other castes leaving in the state but this is an attempt to creat conflict between castes too. We won't tolerate such language against anyone. So let SIT investigate the matter and let the truth come out (doodh ka doodh paani ka pani hone do)," reported ANI.
"We have given reservation to Maratha and it will stand in the court too all the guidelines and norms of court has been studied properly and accordingly. We have given reservation, there is no injustice done on any other community but people are spreading rumours that this reservation won't stand in court why? Who is spreading this?" the Maharastra CM said, reported ANI.
Jarange-Patil's Maratha quota campaign is accused of receiving financial support from 'political associates,' and it is alleged that he made inflammatory remarks during the course of the campaign, reported ANI.
The Maharashtra State Government had indicated that if Jarange Patil's agitation for the Maratha Reservation is politically motivated, funded, and intended to cause unrest, a comprehensive SIT inquiry would be conducted to assess its implications on law and order in the state.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
