The Apex Court declared its verdict on the Maratha Quota issue and struck down the same in excess of 50%, which is the ceiling limit, as it proved to be unconstitutional.
The bench was hearing a number of pleas which challenged the provisions of SEBC Act, 2018, which provided 16% reservation for Marathas in education and job sector. Upon the grant of Maratha Quota, this reservation became 68%.
The constitutional bench unanimously held that there appeared no exceptional circumstances which could justify the grant of reservation in excess of the ceiling limit to the Marathas, as being a socially and economically backward class.
The bench, in the operative portion of the judgment, explained that neither the Gaikwad commission nor the High Court could make out any extraordinary circumstance for granting the reservation in excess of ceiling limit. The bench thus stated that it also could not find any such exceptional reason to further think upon exceeding the ceiling limit.
The bench applied the principle of severability and struck down the SEBC Act to the extent that it held Marathas as a socially and economically backward class, as this violated the principle of equality. Further, the bench struck down the reservation which had been granted to the Marathas in job and education sector.
The bench, however, clarified that the judgment would not affect the PG Medical Admissions which had been made under the Maratha Quota until September 09, 2020.
The bench reiterated the position held in the case of Indra Sawhney case and stated that there appears no need to revisit the 50% ceiling limit on the reservations.
Leave a Reply