Overview

• A division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad refused interim relief and directed the Social Justice Department to file a reply within four weeks.
• The September 2 government resolution permits eligible Maratha, Maratha–Kunbi, and Kunbi–Maratha applicants to obtain Kunbi caste certificates to access OBC benefits.
• Five petitions by Kunbi Sena, Maharashtra Mali Samaj Mahasangh, Ahir Suvarnkar Samaj Sanstha, Sadanand Mandalik, and Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal challenge the legality of the order.
• Petitioners cite prior state committees and the State Backward Class Commission as rejecting recognition of Marathas as Kunbis, calling the move arbitrary, unconstitutional, and procedurally vague.
• Senior advocate Anil Anturkar argued urgency because impending civic elections could allow otherwise ineligible candidates to use new certificates to contest reserved seats, creating an irreversible situation.