Maharashtra govt supports caste survey, Deputy CMs lend voice for head count

At present, Maharashtra offers 62 per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutions; this includes 10 per cent for the economically weaker section (EWS).

In the past too, Fadnavis had a slightly different stance compared with the BJP on pension to government employees. While the BJP was clear it would stick to the National Pension System (where returns are market linked), Fadnavis had said he was not opposed to the OPS (which guarantees pension equal to 50 per cent of last salary drawn) in principle.

At Madha in western Maharashtra, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said, “It is important that the reservation when extended survives in the court. For this, it is important that the caste census is held on the lines of Bihar. Ideally, the census should have been held in 2021. Since it has not happened yet, the caste census will give a clear picture about exact caste-wise percentages.”

“The constitutional experts are studying to ensure that Marathas get reservation in the remaining 38 per cent,” Pawar said. In other words, he seemed to suggest reservation for the Maratha community over and above the present 62 per cent.

“The state government is positive on the caste survey of OBCs. However, a methodology will be finalised to avoid enmity between castes and to gain accurate results,” the minutes of a September 29 meeting between Chief Minister, his two Deputy CMs and a delegation of OBC leaders said.

The minutes specifically mention the word ‘survey’ and not ‘census’. A census can be undertaken only by the Central government.

This is for the first time any state government led by the BJP has voiced in favour of the survey. In Bihar, the BJP had supported a caste survey when it was in alliance with Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) in the state government. But it was the JD(U)-RJD coalition government which announced the survey’s results earlier this month.

The announcement by the two Deputy CMs comes a day before the end of a deadline given by Maratha protesters who are demanding they be included in OBCs so that they can avail benefits of reservation.

The state has been witnessing protests and agitations from different communities demanding reservations over the past several months. The Marathas led by Manoj Jarange-Patil demand reservation in the existing quota by declaring them as OBCs. OBC organisations have, however, opposed this, stating they will not accept any decision which reduces OBC quota.

The Dhangar community has been demanding Scheduled Tribe status while the tribals have already hit the streets against the demand. With several castes and communities engulfing in the row over reservation, the Shiv Sena (Shinde)-BJP-Ajit Pawar-led NCP, has veered around to accept a demand to undertake caste survey.

While the earlier Devendra Fadnavis-led state government’s decision to extend 16 per cent reservation to the Marathas in November 2018 (upheld by the Bombay High Court but fixed at 12 per cent in education and 13 per cent in jobs) was struck down by the Supreme Court in May 2021, a separate committee set by the present state government recently is working towards allotting Kunbi caste certificates to all Marathas from Marathwada who possess Nizam-era revenue records.

A Kunbi Maratha certificate would mean the person will fall under the OBC category, and be eligible for reservation benefits.

Whether Marathas would get reservation as part of OBCs or separately over and above the 62 per cent total quota is still unclear.

Opposition Congress on Monday demanded the state government to clarify its stand on the reservation for OBCs and Marathas. “The situation is becoming complicated only because the so-called triple engine government does not have a clear position on this issue. This is leading to suspicion within communities. The government must take a firm stand on this issue,” said state Congress President Nana Patole.