Overview
- District administrations in Marathwada began handing out Kunbi caste certificates under the September 2 GR, with Hingoli distributing over 50 and smaller numbers issued in Latur, Beed and Dharashiv during inaugural events.
- The Bombay High Court declined to entertain a PIL from a lawyer not directly affected by the policy and granted liberty to seek intervention in cases filed by OBC petitioners listed for hearing on September 22.
- The state’s OBC sub-committee ordered strict verification of documents before issuing caste certificates and cleared the release of Rs 2,933 crore for OBC welfare, with additional allocations proposed for December.
- Minister Chhagan Bhujbal presented allegedly tampered certificates, urged a probe and mass verification, and pressed for the GR’s withdrawal or correction, citing concerns over bogus records and funding disparities.
- OBC groups mounted protests across Marathwada, including an attempt to disrupt Devendra Fadnavis’ speech and a large rally in Hingoli, as police detained demonstrators and reported self-immolation attempts in Beed.