Mumbai: A day after the Supreme Court dismissed the Centre's plea seeking review of the May 5 majority verdict which held that the 102nd Constitution amendment took away states' power to declare Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) for grant of quota in jobs and admissions, the BJP MP and Chhatrapati Shivaji’s direct descendant Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje on Friday said the Centre will have to swing into action and restore the Maratha reservation through a constitutional amendment by issuing an ordinance.
‘’The Centre needs to clarify its position on Maratha quota and take a decision. The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the NCBC, while 342A deals with the power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC and power of Parliament to change the list,’’ said Sambhajiraje.
Sambhajiraje said the silent agitation to press the demand for the restoration of Maratha quota has been temporarily suspended. He, however, clarified that it has not been called off completely. ‘’The Maratha quota can be obtained only through the President or the Governor. In exceptional circumstances, the President will have to be approached,’’ he said.
On the other hand, BJP legislator Ashish Shelar said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will have to initiate a process for the enactment of law providing Maratha quota by forming the State Backward Classes Commission and sending a report on how the Maratha community is backward. ‘’After a concerned community is notified as a backward class, the state government has the right to enact law,’’ he noted.
