Question : Reservation for OBCs in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA


STARRED QUESTION NO. 116*
TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2021


RESERVATION FOR OBCs IN MAHARASHTRA
*116. SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE:
DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Maharashtra has been cancelled and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assembly from Maharashtra observed a symbolic fast in support of political reservation to OBCs in Maharashtra;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether Maharashtra State Tailik Mahasabha has requested the Union Government to implement the recommendations of Mandal Commission and to conduct caste based census in Maharashtra; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Union Government in this regard?

ANSWER
MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)
(a) to (e) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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Statement in answer to parts (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No.116 for 27.07.2021 by Shri Rahul Ramesh Shewale and Dr. Pritam Gopinathrao Munde regarding Reservation for OBCs in Maharashtra.
(a) : No Sir. The Central Government has provided 27% reservation to the OBCs in matters of recruitment to Central Government jobs and admission to Central Government Educational Institutions and this is applicable to the whole Country including the State of Maharashtra.
However, the State Government of Maharashtra has given political reservation to the OBCs in the local bodies like Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis exceeding the upper limit of 50% set by the Supreme Court. This has been struck down by the Supreme Court vide its judgment in Writ Petition (Civil) No.980 of 2019 (Vikas Kishanrao Gawali vs State of Maharashtra & others) dated 4th March 2021.
(b) & (c): Yes Sir. As per report, some legislators of Maharashtra held protest outside the Maharashtra State Assembly on 5th July 2021 in support of political reservation to OBCs in Maharashtra.
(d) : No such representation has been received in this Department or the Registrar General of India.
(e) : Question does not arise in view of (d) above.

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