Ranpise moves breach of privilege motion against Patil over

Congress legislator Sharad Ranpise on Wednesday moved a breach of privilege motion against Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil for not tabling the report of the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) before the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Citing constitutional provisions, Ranpise said that tabling the report along with government's statement as to whether it has accepted or rejected its recommendations was mandatory.

However, senior Sena legislator Anil Parab objected, saying that before moving a breach of privilege motion, the member has to seek prior permission of the Council chairman, and at least seven members have to support the motion.

Ranpise's motion did not meet these conditions, Parab said.

Ranpise said Patil committed a breach of privilege of the members of the house, misleading them by contending that there was no need to table the report.

Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar said he will decide whether to admit the motion or not after seeking a reply from the minister.

Meanwhile, government sources said that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had called for a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on Maratha quota later in the evening to discuss tabling of the Action Taken Report (ATR) over the SBCC report.

The government is to table the ATR and a bill on Maratha quota in the Assembly and Council Thursday.

The two-week winter session of the legislature will end on November 30.

For the sixth consecutive day, opposition members demanded tabling of the SBCC report, which has favoured the Maratha community's demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutes.