Maratha Reservation: PIL files in Bombay HC against Kunbi Caste Certificate

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed to the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision to confer Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community in the state.

The PIL, filed on January 30 by Mangesh Sasane, self-proclaimed chairman of the ‘OBC Welfare Foundation,’ contends that the state government’s action of granting Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community is encroaching upon the reservation meant for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The court is scheduled to hear the petition on February 6, according to the High Court’s website.

The plea questions five government resolutions issued since 2004, allowing Marathas to apply for Kunbi caste certificates.

The petitioner’s advocate, Ashish Mishra, asserts that the process of obtaining Kunbi certificates for Marathas has become more lenient over time due to various protests, specifically aimed at facilitating their reservation.

The petition highlights that in 2021, the Supreme Court deemed the Maharashtra government’s decision to grant reservation to Maraths as unconstitutional. Mr. Mishra argues that by allowing Marathas to obtain Kunbi certificates and avail themselves of reservation benefits, the government is providing them with a backdoor entry.

On January 20, Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil initiated a march from Antarwali Sarathi in Jalna to Mumbai, demanding Kunbi certificates for all Marathas to access OBC quota benefits in government jobs and education.

The state government recently issued a draft notification stating that blood relatives of a Maratha individual, who can prove their Kunbi community affiliation, will also be acknowledged as Kunbi. Kunbi, categorized as an agrarian community, falls under the OBC category.

Jarange, leading the reservation agitation for Marathas since August, has been advocating for Kunbi certificates to enable all Marathas to benefit from reserved quotas.

Following the government’s notification, the activist called off his march to Mumbai. The government has invited suggestions and objections to the notification until February 16.