Maratha quota valid but should be reduced from 16%, says Bombay HC

Bombay High Court says reservation for Marathas should be reduced as recommended by the State Backward Classes Commission.

Reservation for Marathas in Maharashtra government jobs and education institutes is constitutionally correct but should be reduced from 16 per cent to 12-13 per cent, said the Bombay High Court on Thursday.

"We hold and declare that the state government possesses legislative competence to create a separate category of the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) and grant reservation," said a bench comprising Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre.

The court said the reservation should be reduced as recommended by the State Backward Classes Commission.

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions challenging Maharashtra government's decision granting 16 per