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Maharashtra scraps 5 per cent Muslim quota; Opposition calls government ‘anti-minority’

Statesman News Service

Maharashtra scraps 5 per cent reservation for Muslims, opposition calls government ‘anti-minority’. (IANS)


The Maharashtra government today issued a government resolution (GR), cancelling its earlier resolution of granting 5 per cent reservation to the Muslim community in educational institutions and government and semi-government jobs. The provision was legally invalidated over a decade ago.

The government’s social justice department announced that no admissions will be granted to the Muslim community under the 5 per cent reservation in educational institutions, and no new caste or validity certificates will be issued under this category.

Opposition objects to cancellation of Muslim reservation

Following the cancellation of the 5 per cent reservation for Muslims in education and government jobs, the Opposition parties hit back at the BJP-led Maharashtra government and called it anti-minority.

Calling reservation a Constitutional right of the people, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule questioned the state government over the withdrawal of the Muslim quota. She said that reservation is something that is given rightfully to people; it’s a right from the Constitution of India. So why has this government withdrawn it?”


Protest over reservation that never was

The Reservation, introduced in July 2014 through an ordinance, classified Muslims under the Special Backwards Class-A (SBC-A) category and applied to government jobs and educational institutions. However, the ordinance was challenged in the Mumbai High Court, which stayed it on November 14, 2014.

Also, the Supreme Court later cancelled the reservation while deciding a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the Bombay High Court order, effectively invalidating the provision.

Notably, the ordinance had lapsed automatically as it was not enacted into law by the Maharashtra legislature by the December 23, 2014, deadline. The ordinance was never brought before the Maharashtra legislature as a bill to make it a law.

Still, the Maharashtra government had not officially revoked the original GR through any official order till date.

“It was just an ordinance,” explains the State Minority Commission Chairman, Pyare Khan. He said, “Where was it implemented as a law? If it had been implemented, then the reservation would not have been cancelled, and the government did not do anything. The Social Justice Department of Maharashtra has a normal procedure… If you look at the condition of Muslims, it has improved a bit even today. What was it like in the last seventy years?…”

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