Bombay HC gives govt six weeks to respond on Maratha quota

The Bombay high court on Thursday granted the Maharashtra government six weeks to file affidavit and other submissions in a matter pertaining to reservation of seats in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community.

The Bombay high court on Thursday granted the Maharashtra government six weeks to file affidavit and other submissions in a matter pertaining to reservation of seats in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community.

The Bombay HC granted the Maharashtra government six weeks to file affidavit on the issue of reservation. (File Photo)

A bench of Justices Anoop V Mohta and GS Kulkarni also directed all the respondents in the matter to file their respective affidavits in next two weeks.

While the bench had earlier asked the state to file its affidavit by October 12, the government on Thursday sought additional time, saying that the “Maratha community comprises people belonging to various castes and since the country doesn’t conduct caste-based census anymore”, it was proving rather “difficult” to get a hold of the requisite data.

Convinced with the argument, the bench granted “last chance” to the state.

While the petitioners objected to the adjournment, arguing that the state was “employing tricks to delay the matter”, the bench said that at this stage, it had no “choice but to believe” the government.

“We will verify their claims once the arguments begin,” the bench said.