Maratha Reservation - Supreme Court Constitution Bench Hearing [DAY-1]. LIVE UPDATES

Radhika Roy

15 March 2021 11:11 AM IST

  • Maratha Reservation - Supreme Court  Constitution  Bench  Hearing  [DAY-1]. LIVE UPDATES

    Constitution Bench of Supreme Court is hearing the challenge against constitutionality of Maharashtra Socially & Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, which provided for a quota to Marathas in jobs &...

    Constitution Bench of Supreme Court is hearing the challenge against constitutionality of Maharashtra Socially & Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018, which provided for a quota to Marathas in jobs & education.

    Live Updates

    • 15 March 2021 2:34 PM IST

      Datar: I now want to address how the assertion that Marathas are backward is completely baseless. The High Court Commission has also noted the same. Now, please come to the Pandian judgement. 

    • 15 March 2021 2:34 PM IST

      Datar: This Court has taken 50% as the outer limit for any affirmative action. It has read this limit even for 243D. Even though it was a 3-Judge Bench, the reasoning should be taken into consideration.

      Datar: Even though this outer limit of 50% is not mentioned in the Constitution, it can be found under the brooding omnipresence of Article 14, that the right to equality is applicable everywhere.

       

    • 15 March 2021 2:33 PM IST

      Datar: This Court has taken 50% as the outer limit for any affirmative action. It has read this limit even for 243D. Even though it was a 3-Judge Bench, the reasoning should be taken into consideration. 

    • 15 March 2021 2:32 PM IST

      Datar: Come to Art. 243D which provides for reservations for SC/ST in Panchayats as per their population.

      Datar now brings the attention of the Court to a judgement. 

    • 15 March 2021 2:32 PM IST

      Bench has re-assembled.

      Adv. Ashutosh Pandey requests for time for Sr. Adv. Rajeev Dhawan to argue after Datar and Sr. Adv. Gopal Sankaranarayanan. Bench agrees.

      Datar resumes his submissions. 

    • 15 March 2021 1:10 PM IST

      Bench has risen for lunch. Matter will resume at 2PM. 

    • 15 March 2021 1:02 PM IST

      Datar: Maharashtra's stance is that Marathas are backward and that they form 30% of the population. This, according to them, is the 'extraordinary situation’ which requires for the promulgation of SEBC Act. 

    • 15 March 2021 12:59 PM IST

      Datar (reading out a judgment): No reservation should exceed 50% and it should not be exercised for majorities. So, your Lordships, there’s a complete bar.

      Datar now reads out the 2006 Nagaraj judgment on quota for promotion given to SC/ST employees. 

    • 15 March 2021 12:51 PM IST

      Datar: The relaxation is for populations of such far-flung areas on account of their being outside mainstream life, for factors peculiar to them, because of which they need to be treated differently. Extreme caution must be exercised for this. 

    • 15 March 2021 12:48 PM IST

      Datar: The Court can take judicial notice of the fact that a prosperous and progressive State like Maharashtra cannot give reservation to Marathas and the SEBC Act must be struck down. They have not been able to establish any extraordinary situation as well.

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