Yet another PIL challenges reservation in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: A fresh petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging a Maharashtra Government Resolution which provides for reservations in jobs and educational institutions for Muslims and Marathas in the state.

The PIL, filed by Anil Thanekar, seeks to quash the GR on the ground that it was unconstitutional because the Constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion just as it had been done in the case of Muslims.

As regards reservation for Marathas, the PIL, filed through advocate Ashish Mehta yesterday, contended that this community does not belong to the backward class.

This is the third PIL challenging the reservations. The first one was filed by activist Ketan Tirodkar questioning reservations against Marathas. The second PIL, also against the reservation for same community, is pending since 2009 and in this case the High Court has allowed the petitioner to carry out an amendment to challenge the GR issued recently.

All the petitions have been clubbed together and would be heard by a bench headed by Justice Abhay Oka on August 5.

The PIL filed by Thanekar has argued that the recent reservation for Muslims and Marathas takes the total reservation in the State to above 50 per cent which exceeds the ceiling imposed by the Supreme Court.