Maratha demand: Maharashtra Govt files affidavit to back quota

According to him, according to the affidavit filed by the state, most of the farmers who committed suicide in Maharashtra over the past few years belonged to this community.

The data collected by the Rane Committee, references in Dr Ambedkar’s and books by Jotiba Phule have been cited in support of the government’s stand. The affidavit also has an annexure of the various Backward Class Commissions and comments by S G Devgaonkar, who was a member of the Bapat commission. “We have also relied on several books including Dr B R Ambedkar’s work, which states that the Maratha community is socially backward,” added Vagyani.

According to him, the Supreme Court states that reservation can exceed 50 per cent in exceptional circumstances. “In exceptional circumstances, it is allowed which we have provided for. We have also cited the example of Tamil Nadu where there is more than 50 per cent reservation,” he said.

Earlier, senior counsels appearing for the government in different matters, V A Thorat and Ravi Kadam, had sought additional time saying they needed to place data on record along with the affidavit which would be collated from various agencies.

The court is presently hearing two PILs opposing the then Congress-NCP government’s 2014 decision to grant 16 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, and also a bunch of applications in favour of the reservation.

The High Court is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on December 7, following which the final hearing in the matter will commence.