WHAT HAPPENED? Reservation granted to Maratha Community by Maharashtra’s Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018 was challenged as being unconstitutional. This law granted 16% quota in admissions to educational institutions and jobs in public services — later brought down to 12% in admissions and 13% in jobs through a 2019 amendment.
WHY WAS IT ALLEGED TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
50% ceiling limit imposed on reservations by Indra Sawhney v. Union of India was exceeded by this law.
Basis of the reservation was challenged on the ground that it lacked reliable, scientific and adequate data to justify either the backwardness of Marathas or the extra-ordinary condition of increasing reservations in Maharashtra from 52% to 68%.
Special benefits given to Marathas by creating a special class of reservation for outside the OBC class was said to violate Articles 14, 16 and 19 of the Constitution.
The judgment was pronounced on 5 May 2021.
On Questions 1-3, The Supreme Court held that a separate reservation for the Maratha community violates Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (due process of law).
Further, it stated that,
· 50% limit on reservations should not be reconsidered.
· Report of Gaikwad Commission, on the basis of which the reservation was granted, had failed to lay out an 'extraordinary situation' to fall within the exception for exceeding 50% limit.
On these grounds, Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018 were held to be unconstitutional.
The five-Judge Bench of the Supreme Court held that the State has not shown any exceptional circumstance to justify exceeding the limit.
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