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Fresh Bombay High Court Bench To Hear Maratha Quota Pleas
The Bombay High Court is preparing to hear arguments about a 10% reservation for the Maratha community.
The reservation applies to education and government jobs in Maharashtra.
A new group of three judges will start hearing the case on October 9.
The case had to begin again because one of the earlier judges became chief justice of another High Court.
Earlier proceedings had also stopped after another chief justice was transferred.
Some petitioners say the reservation law is unconstitutional.
The Maharashtra government says the quota is supported by a report citing exceptional circumstances.
Another group of petitions questions whether eligible Marathas should receive Kunbi certificates.
These certificates could allow them to claim benefits under the OBC category.
Any admissions or appointments made under the law will depend on the High Court’s final decision.
The Bombay High Court has formed a new three-judge bench to hear challenges and supporting petitions concerning Maharashtra’s 10% Maratha reservation.
Justices MS Karnik, NJ Jamadar and Sandeep Marne will begin hearing the matter afresh on October 9.
The proceedings restarted because Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge was elevated as Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
Petitions challenge the constitutional validity of the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2024.
Separate petitions challenge a September 2, 2025 resolution allowing eligible Marathas from Marathwada to seek Kunbi certificates and OBC reservation benefits.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, Maharashtra government, Maratha petitioners and supporters, and petitioners challenging Kunbi certificates.
- What
- A fresh three-judge bench will hear challenges and supporting petitions concerning Maharashtra’s 10% Maratha reservation, along with separate challenges to Kunbi certificates.
- Where
- The Bombay High Court in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- When
- The fresh hearing is scheduled to begin on October 9; the Kunbi-certificate resolution was issued on September 2, 2025.
- Why
- The hearing is restarting after changes involving earlier judges, while petitioners are challenging the reservation law and the Kunbi-certificate resolution.
Petitioners Challenging Measures
Maharashtra Government And Supporters
Validity of the 10% quota
Petitioners Challenging Measures
Petitioners challenge the constitutional validity of the 2024 SEBC Act and its Maratha reservation.
Maharashtra Government And Supporters
The state relies on the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission’s finding of exceptional circumstances to justify exceeding the Supreme Court’s 50% reservation ceiling.
Kunbi certificates
Petitioners Challenging Measures
Petitioners say the September 2, 2025 resolution is arbitrary and unconstitutional, and question the legal basis for issuing certificates because earlier reports treated Marathas and Kunbis as distinct communities.
Maharashtra Government And Supporters
The state says the resolution applies only to Marathas who can establish their Kunbi origins, enabling eligible applicants to claim OBC reservation benefits.
Key facts
- New bench
- Justices MS Karnik, NJ Jamadar and Sandeep Marne
- Hearing date
- October 9
- Reservation
- 10% for Marathas in education and government jobs
- Contested law
- Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2024
- Supporting report
- A report by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission headed by retired Justice Sunil Shukre
- Interim arrangement
- Admissions and appointments under the 2024 Act remain subject to the petitions’ final outcome
- Separate challenge
- Petitions contest the September 2, 2025 resolution on Kunbi certificates for eligible Marathas from Marathwada
Sources
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