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Bombay High Court Resumes Hearing on Maharashtra’s 10% Maratha Quota
The Bombay High Court has started hearing arguments about a law that gives the Maratha community 10% reserved places in education and government jobs.
Some people have asked the court to strike down the law.
Their lawyer says the state cannot go against earlier Supreme Court decisions and questions whether an extra quota is justified.
The law says a commission found exceptional circumstances for the reservation.
The court has not yet made a final decision.
Until then, admissions and job appointments under the law depend on the final outcome.
This is the third time hearings have started since 2024.
Earlier hearings stopped after the judges leading them moved to other courts.
A three-judge Bombay High Court bench began hearing petitions challenging Maharashtra’s 2024 law granting Marathas 10% reservation in education and government jobs.
Petitioners’ counsel Arvind Datar argued the state legislature cannot override earlier Supreme Court findings on the community’s status.
Datar cited the general 50% reservation ceiling and questioned an additional community-wide quota, noting Marathas could qualify for EWS benefits.
The 2024 law relies on a commission report that cites exceptional circumstances for exceeding the ceiling; admissions and appointments remain subject to the case’s outcome.
This is the third time since 2024 hearings have begun; earlier proceedings stalled after the presiding judges moved to other courts.
- Who
- A three-judge Bombay High Court bench, hearing petitions challenging Maharashtra’s Maratha reservation law.
- What
- The court began a fresh hearing on the constitutional validity of a 10% reservation for Marathas.
- Where
- Bombay High Court, Mumbai.
- When
- Friday, October 9, 2026.
- Why
- Petitioners challenge the law, arguing that it conflicts with earlier rulings and the general 50% reservation ceiling.
Petitioners’ arguments
State law’s stated basis
Basis for the 10% quota
Petitioners’ arguments
Petitioners’ counsel argued that the state legislature cannot override earlier Supreme Court findings about the Maratha community and questioned the case for a blanket additional quota.
State law’s stated basis
The 2024 law is based on a commission report that cites exceptional circumstances to justify exceeding the general 50% reservation ceiling.
Reservation ceiling and alternatives
Petitioners’ arguments
Datar cited the 50% ceiling and argued that Marathas were already eligible for EWS benefits, which he said did not justify an additional community-wide reservation.
State law’s stated basis
The law provides a separate 10% quota for Marathas; its validity is before the court, and the article does not report a detailed response from the state to Datar’s arguments.
Key facts
- Law under challenge
- Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2024
- Reservation provided
- 10% for the Maratha community in educational institutions and government jobs
- Bench
- Justices M S Karnik, N J Jamadar and Sandeep Marne
- Petitioners’ counsel
- Senior counsel Arvind Datar
- General ceiling cited
- 50%, as laid down in the Supreme Court’s Indra Sawhney judgment
- Interim arrangement
- Admissions and appointments under the Act remain subject to the final outcome of the petitions
- Separate proceedings
- Challenges to a September 2, 2025 government resolution on Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas in Marathwada are being heard separately
Quotes
Arvind Datar
Senior counsel for petitioners opposing the Maratha quota.
“Once the Supreme Court has given a decision that Marathas are a dominant forward class and have been in the mainstream, the legislature cannot override it.”
freepressjournal.in
“Here, nothing of that sort has been done. Only the state legislature has passed the Act.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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