Overview

• The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh D. Patil recused from hearing challenges to Maharashtra’s policy on granting Kunbi certificates to Marathas, with no reason stated.
• The petitions are to be taken up next by a bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar with Justice Gautam Ankhad on a date yet to be fixed.
• Filings by Kunbi Sena, Maharashtra Mali Samaj Mahasangh, Ahir Suvarnkar Samaj Sanstha, Sadanand Mandalik and Maharashtra Nabhik Mahamandal argue the decision is arbitrary, unconstitutional and violative of Article 14.
• The September 2 government resolution invokes the 1918 Hyderabad Gazette and sets up a committee process to allow Marathas who show historical evidence to obtain Kunbi caste certificates.
• Kunbi is classified as an OBC in Maharashtra, so eligible certificate holders could claim reservation benefits, and quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil ended a five-day fast after the committee announcement as a related PIL by a non-aggrieved lawyer was dismissed last week.