The BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra passed the Maratha Reservation Bill on Sunday. The decision was taken at the State Cabinet meeting to provide reservations beyond 50 per cent.

However, experts feel that such a move may not be legally tenable in the courts nor it will solve the basic problems of economic development of the Maratha community.

The Fadnavis government has made the decision based on the recommendations of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, whose report was submitted on Thursday to Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government DK Jain.

Political commentator Nagesh Kesari said that the Maharashtra government wants to implement the Tamil Nadu government’s pattern of providing reservations in government jobs and educational institutions beyond 50 per cent, but such a decision is bound to challenged by other castes, who will get negatively affected by State government decision. How this reservation decision would be implemented within the structure of the Indian constitution, is a matter to be watched eagerly, he said.

Kesari also pointed out that the interpretation of the caste structure made by the Commission is also not correct.

In June 2014 Congress-NCP government led by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced 16 per cent reservation quota in government jobs and in educational institutions for Marathas and five per cent quotas for the Muslim community. But November 2014, the Bombay High Court had stayed the government decision. The Supreme Court had also declined to vacate the Bombay High Court stay.

Focus on elections

Author and social commentator Nilu Damle said the State Government has taken such a major decision based on the forthcoming election in the States and 2019 general election. The problems of the Maratha community are closely associated with economic problems and lack of growth in the agriculture sector.

At one hand new jobs in industries are not getting created and on the other, the State government is not recruiting enough people. Plus the BJP government lacks the specific skill sets to address the economic problems of the State, he said.