The affidavit relied heavily on a new Gokhale committee report, pre-Independence articles, Constitutional notes of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Vedas and references to earlier dynasties to show that Marathas were described all along as a “backward” community in need of reservation.
It attacked PILs challenging the reservation introduced by the state in 2014 on legal points too. The PIL wrongly interpreted the Supreme Court ruling to submit that a state cannot exceed reservation by 50%, it said. The judgement put no bar on reservation and said it may exceed if exceptional circumstances are shown and which are covered under Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, said the Maharashtra government.
The 300-page Gokhale report says the community mainly belongs to those who are labourers, mathadi kamgar, sugarcane-cutters and poor farmers.
The affidavit, vetted by government pleader Abhinandan Vagyani, and filed late on Monday, referred to the constitutional notes of Dr Ambedkar which had pointed out that the community is backward and needed reservation.
It took reference of 78 pre-Independence documents to show that the community is socially and educationally backward and relied on references from Shahu Maharaj dynasty’s time to stated that reservations were given to the community
The actual affidavit is about 800 pages long and rest are annexures. Pre-Indepence documents include old government gazettes and documents to show the backwardness of the community. It has also relied on the Vedas to show that Khastriyas are among the five “varnas”. The hearing on the PIL will now take place on December 7 before a bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur.
The HC had in November 2014 stayed a 16% quota for Marathas under a new economic and socially backward category created by the state for the community.
December 8, 2016 at 9:09 am
Reservations have become a crucial issue for agitations. Many castes all over the country are claiming quotas for ‘ backwardness’ of their castes/ communities. Court should lay parameters for castes or communities to be qualified for availing reservations which can be followed in future.