Panel looking into Maratha reservation takes a hit: 3 members resign, some allege ‘govt interference’, call for chairperson to step down

Speaking to The Indian Express, Killarikar said, “This is a quasi-judicial authority and is not meant to please the government or to write a report that suits the government. We are here to give a factual report. There has been growing interference in the functioning of the commission from the government and the chairperson was called to discuss issues that are currently being discussed in the commission. He has failed to maintain its impartiality and instead follows what is told to him by the government. I feel that he should step down from the post.”

Killarikar is among the three members of the commission who have tendered their resignation from their posts in the past one week.

On October 30, as the Maratha agitation raged demanding Kunbi (OBC) certificate, the General Administration Department (GAD) issued a government resolution (GR) on the steps to be taken based on the first report of Justice (retired) Sandeep Shinde Committee formed on formulating the process to give OBC certificates. It said that the MSBCC will be asked to collect data to check the social and educational backwardness of Marathas.

While Killarikar has blamed “government interference” and “agenda-driven approach” of the MSBCC for his resignation, Laxman Hake, who recently quit, said that the “autonomy of the commission is being compromised” and the commission must not work on anyone’s agenda. “I felt that there was growing interference from the government and it was unacceptable to me,” said Hake.

Another member, Justice (retired) Chandralal Meshram told The Indian Express that he was also contemplating resignation. “We are not government servants. We are not supposed to work based on government orders. I have yet not made a decision, but yes, I am thinking about resigning. I will discuss with some seniors and take a call in the next two-three days,” said Meshram.

The commission, however, is divided over the issue with few members expressing displeasure over the alleged manner in which the commission is being dragged into this.

Dr Sanjeev Sonawane, one of the three members who resigned over the past one week, said that he resigned since he was appointed as the vice-chancellor of Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University. He told this newspaper that he has no differences with the chairperson or the government.

Some other members also say that there has been no political interference. Nilima Sarap Lakhade, a member of the commission, said, “We have been working as members of the commission for the past two-and-half years. I see no interference from any political leader or the government.”

Another commission member, Dr Govind Kale, claimed that no government official has ever put pressure on the commission to give any favourable report. “The government representative has only said that they want the report in the prescribed time. I see nothing wrong in it,” he said.

Commission chairperson Justice (retired) Anand Nirgude was also rumoured to have offered his resignation. When contacted about the disagreements within the commission members, Nirgude declined to comment, despite several attempts.

Sources close to the development told The Indian Express that in the December 1 meeting of the commission, the dissenting members disapproved collecting data only on Marathas and instead pushed for collecting data of all communities.

In his resignation letter, Killarikar said that “to resolve the situation, it is better to have a comprehensive caste-based socio-economic survey of Maharashtra state which will enable every section of society to realise their own socio-economic status”. He also said that Maratha and Backward classes need to be informed honestly, with authentic and reliable information, apart from vote politics, as regards to their claim of reservation and other similar demands.

The Maratha agitation in Maharashtra led by social activist Manoj Jarange Patil forced the state government to speed up the process of granting OBC certificates to Marathas. It has led to protests from OBCs who have warned of agitation if their share of reservation is reduced. The state government’s curative petition in the Supreme Court regarding Marathas reservation is pending and it needs the data on backwardness of Marathas in the state from the commission.