Right Issues: Maratha Reservation, Waqf Properties

Maratha Reservation

Maharashtra government՚s law on reservation for Marathas has been recently upheld by the Bombay High Court. The law proposed reservation benefits in education and public employment on the Maratha community. Creation of a group called Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) .

  • Under SEBC Marathas were included as the sole group and extended 16% reservation.
  • The reservation reached to 68% going beyond the limit of 50% imposed by the Supreme Court .
  • As per the High Court the failure to treat this group as backward for decades has pushed it into social and educational backwardness.
  • It faulted the government for exceeding the panel՚s recommendation for 12 - 13% reservation and pulled back the figure.
  • The only member of the newly created SEBC are the Marathas.
  • The exception to the 50% limit should be examined by the Supreme Court closely.

Waqf Properties

  • An inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law.
  • Typically involves donating a building, plot of land or other assets for Muslim religious or charitable purposes.
  • No intention of reclaiming the assets.
  • A Geo tagging and digitalization programme of Waqf properties across the country has been launched by the Union government so that these properties can be utilized for welfare of the society.

Examrace Team at Sep 3, 2021