The Maharashtra government will bring in a law to give five per cent reservation to Muslims in educational institutes, state minister for minority affairs Nawab Malik said in the Legislative Council Friday. Malik also blamed the previous government for not implementing the directions of the High Court. The minister said that the government had decided to implement the decision since the previous government under chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had not taken steps to implement it. In June 2019, after a year of Maratha agitation, the Maharashtra Legislative State Assembly passed the amendment in the Socially Economically Backward Class Act including a 16% reservation in universities and government jobs. The Bombay High Court upheld the decision but reduced the quantum to of the reservation to 12% and 13% for social (jobs) and educational purposes. This brought the total reservation in Maharashtra up to 72% along with the Economically weaker section (in general category) reservation of 10%, passed by the Modi government.Decision is being implemented by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray who is running the government with the help of NCP and Congress
High Court had given its nod to give 5% reservation to Muslims in government educational institutions.
Malik added that action will be taken to ensure the passade before the beginning of the admissions for the academic year.
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