Jarange Patil strikes again, demands scrapping of caste validity committees

Manoj Jarange-Patil has added abolition of caste validity scrutiny committees to his demands, drawing opposition from OBC leaders and legal experts

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has added a fresh condition to his list of demands while launching his 11th indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna. Beyond his existing ten demands regarding Maratha reservation, Jarange-Patil is now clamouring for the total scrapping of caste validity scrutiny committees. This new demand has immediately drawn staunch opposition from Other Backward Classes (OBC) leaders and legal experts across Maharashtra.

Maratha community activist Manoj Jarange-Patil (HT Photo)

Jarange-Patil alleges that these committees act as corrupt hurdles in obtaining OBC certificates, claiming that they demand bribes while ignoring legitimate documentation. Pointing out that issuing authorities like tehsildars and sub-divisional officers are already fully competent, he argued that two-tier verification is entirely uncalled-for. He stated his protest would continue until these committees are abolished, threatening to escalate his movement to Mumbai in five phases with millions of Maratha supporters if the state government fails to address his demands promptly. His core platform continues to demand expedited Kunbi certificates based on historical gazetteers and the immediate withdrawal of cases registered against Maratha protesters over the past three years.

New demand faces legal, political opposition

However, opponents argue that his latest stance is legally untenable and socially risky. Jalna-based political leader Sanjay Lakhe-Patil clarified that scrutiny committees exist nationwide pursuant to a landmark 1994 Supreme Court order, making their establishment a constitutional necessity.

Meanwhile, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal warned that dismantling these quasi-judicial bodies would prove disastrous, removing vital safeguards against fake caste certificates. Bhujbal highlighted that non-tribal individuals have previously secured government jobs using fraudulent Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe credentials, emphasising that scrutiny committees are essential to maintaining regulatory control.