Maharashtra Scraps 5% Muslim Reservation Quota
- Government withdraws 2014 SEBC quota decision
- Fresh GR cancels Muslim reservation in education, jobs
Hyderabad: Maharashtra scraps 5% Muslim reservation quota, formally withdrawing the 2014 decision that granted benefits under the Socially and Educationally Backward Class category. The Government of Maharashtra issued a fresh Government Resolution to cancel its earlier order, bringing an end to the quota move.
According to a report by media, the Social Justice Department issued the order late on Tuesday. It scrapped the quota that applied to admissions in educational institutions and recruitment in government and semi government services. The department said the step aligns official records with the existing legal position.
“This is not a new policy decision but a step to bring official records in line with the legal position that has existed for years,” a senior government official said. “The ordinance through which the quota was introduced was never enacted into law and had lapsed,” noted the official.
2014 SEBC quota faced legal hurdles in Bombay High Court
The reservation was introduced in July 2014. At that time, the then state cabinet cleared a proposal moved by the minority welfare department. It granted a 5 percent quota to certain Muslim communities identified as socially and educationally backward. Authorities were also directed to issue caste and validity certificates to eligible beneficiaries. This allowed them to avail benefits in education and public employment.
However, the decision was soon challenged before the Bombay High Court. On November 14, 2014, the court granted an interim stay on the implementation of the quota in public employment under the state government. While the educational component remained under discussion, legal uncertainty continued. Therefore, the policy could not be fully implemented in its original form.
In its latest Government Resolution, the government stated that the 2014 ordinance creating the quota was never converted into law by the state legislature. As a result, it ceased to have effect. Consequently, government resolutions and circulars issued in 2014 and 2015 related to the SEBC quota lost legal validity.
“The reservation was not operational in the manner it was originally envisaged due to judicial intervention. The present order only reflects that position,” the official added.
Although the government described the move as procedural, it is likely to trigger political debate in the state. The original quota was framed to address educational and employment backwardness among economically and socially weaker sections within the Muslim community.
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