OBC outfit files PIL in Bombay HC against Maha decision on Kunbi certificates to Marathas

After the Maharashtra government issued a draft notification, facilitating Kunbi caste quotas under the OBC category for the Marathas, OBC Welfare Foundation (OWF) has filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court against the state government's notification.

The PIL claims that the state government does not have the powers to define the relatives of Marathas who could be given reservation by identifying them as Kunbis. The petition highlights the fear and anger among the OBC communities in the state that the Maratha community is getting reservations through the "backdoor" with the government's help.

Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil, whose stir forced the state to issue the draft notification, has now warned that the Maratha community would challenge the Mandal Commission that led to reservation for the OBC communities.


"The responsibility of getting this into law is with the Maharashtra chief minister and deputy chief minister... However, if they (OBC leaders) want to challenge it, then we would soon be challenging the Mandal Commission itself. We would soon be meeting our lawyers on the issue," said Jarange Patil.

Bhujbal 'dares' Jarange Patil

OBC leader and NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal 'dared' the Maratha leader to challenge the Mandal Commission. "If he has the guts, let him go ahead and challenge," said Bhujbal. He claimed that after the draft notification he has come across several cases where OBCs were being abused and targeted in the villages by Maratha community members.

Ally Shiv Sena Slams Bhujbal

Bhujbal has decided to hold OBC rallies throughout the state from February 5, even as he is being slammed from a ruling party ally. "Bhujbal should be removed from the ministry. He is not behaving as per his oath when he was sworn in, as he is taking sides against a community. Why does he have so much hate for one community? He should be thrown out from the ministry," said Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad.

Another Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat also took on Bhujbal for criticising the state government's decision to issue the draft notification.