Taking all steps to amend rules for caste certificates, sensitive towards Jarange-Patil’s protest: govt to HC

After Jarange-Patil’s lawyer submitted that his client was on saline and was not keeping well and sought time to seek instructions from him, the HC posted hearing on plea by lawyer Gunaratan Sadavarte against Jarange-Patil’s protests and fast-unto-death for Kunbi (OBC) status for Marathas to Thursday.

Sadavarte expressed concern about the bandh call given by Jarange-Patil, which he claimed would affect school children having their exams in February in the state.

Saraf submitted that it had not even been 20 days since the government issued notification to amend Maharashtra Scheduled Castes, Denotified Tribes (Vimukta Jatis), Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes & Special Backward Category (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Rules, 2012. The suggestions and objections to the same from affected persons were invited by February 16.

“The state is always extremely sensitive. We have endeavoured to balance. Last time, people marched to Mumbai and the state took steps including issuing notification for amendment to rules. Law has a certain timeline. In situations like this, continuous fasting will lead to various situations which become difficult. This kind of situation can spiral out and it is difficult,” Saraf said.

He went on to submit, “The state is not taking it casually. This situation can surely cause a law-and-order situation. We do not want anything to happen to him. His health should be looked after.”

Jarange-Patil’s counsel told the bench that his client was agitating only in his hometown of Antarvali-Saarati in Jalana district.

The lawyer said the Maratha activist had returned from Vashi in Navi Mumbai last month after the protests and did not march further to Mumbai, considering the state’s stand of issuing notification. After he sought time to take instructions from Jarange-Patil who was unwell, the bench posted further hearing to Thursday, February 15.

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