With 16% reservation for Marathas in place, the Maharashtra government will start recruitment of 72,000 posts in various State-owned establishments.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced this in the Assembly on Friday, the last day of winter session, while replying to a discussion initiated by the Opposition on the State government’s performance in the last four years. Mr. Fadnavis had, a few months back, announced that 72,000 vacancies in the State would be filled soon. However, the Maratha organistaions felt the community would not be represented in enough numbers in the recruitment drive.

In August, against the backdrop of bandh called by Maratha organisations, and instances of violence, Mr. Fadnavis announced a stay on the recruitment drive. The quota granted to Marathas is over and above the existing reservation under various categories.

Petition in HC

Meanwhile, a petition was filed at the Bombay High Court on Friday seeking that no order should be passed by the court in any matter pertaining to the reservation. Vinod Patil, a social worker who had earlier filed a petition opposing the reservation, has filed a caveat in the court stating, “No interim relief, stay, injunction, order of any nature be passed without due notice under section 148A (right to lodge a caveat) of the Civil Procedure Code as he is likely to move court by filing a petition seeking to challenge the order passed on November 29, 2018, by the Maharashtra State.” The matter will come up in due course of time.