Maharashtra withdraws process for 5% Muslim reservation in jobs and education certificates

The Maharashtra government has withdrawn the process related to caste verification and validation certificates for Muslims under the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes category, effectively closing the route for 5% reservation in government and semi-government jobs and education.

A government order issued on Feb 17 cancels earlier directives from 2014 and 2015 that had enabled the issuance of caste certificates and related validation for Muslim reservation.

Officials described the move as a technical step formalizing the existing position, as the quota had not been implemented due to legal and procedural hurdles.

In 2014, the then Congress NCP government had announced 16% reservation for Marathas and 5% for Muslims under the SEBC category ahead of the state elections.

The decision followed recommendations, including those of the Narayan Rane committee for Marathas, while the demand for Muslim reservation had also been raised earlier, including by the Sachar Committee.

An ordinance granting 5% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education under a Special Backward Category was issued in 2014. However, after a change in government, the ordinance lapsed on Dec 23, 2014, as it was not converted into law within six months.

The policy was also challenged in the Bombay High Court in a petition filed in 2014. The court struck down the job quota but allowed reservation in education. Since the ordinance had expired, the education quota was not implemented.

With the latest order, the state has rescinded all related government resolutions issued in 2014 and 2015 concerning caste certification and validation for Muslim reservation.

Opposition leaders criticized the decision. NCP SP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, “BJP-led Maharashtra government’s decision to revoke 5% reservation to SEBC Muslims proves that the BJP foes not value Muslim leaders of BJP and their allies. It also shows that these Muslim leaders are incapable of getting justice from BJP on their own.”

Shiv Sena leader Krishna Hegde said the previous Congress-NCP government had relied on a temporary ordinance instead of enacting a law. “The full reservation of the backward communities has been restored by the Mahayuti government,” he said.