Maharashtra govt extends term of committee deciding Kunbi-Maratha certificate methodology

The Maharashtra government has granted an extension to the Justice retd Sandeep Shinde committee which was formed by the previous administration to decide the methodology for issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community membersAccording to the latest government order the committees term has been extended until June 30 2025This sixmonth extension comes 43 days after the previous term expired on December 31 2024The panel was initially appointed by the Eknath Shindeled government in September 2023 in response to the growing demand for granting Kunbi caste certificates to eligible Maratha individualsThe primary aim of issuing these certificates is to enable Marathas to avail themselves of Other Backward Class OBC reservations in jobs and educational institutionsThe Maratha community traditionally an agrarian group has long sought recognition under the Kunbi caste which is categorised as OBCHowever the move has faced considerable opposition from OBC leaders in the state who argue that such inclusion would reduce the share of reservation available to their communitiesThis controversy has sparked widespread debate and protests particularly from Maratha leaders who feel they are being denied fair access to OBC benefitsMaratha quota Shinde committee gets extension till April 30TheMaharashtra governmenthas given extension till April 30 to the Sandeep Shinde committee set up last year to scrutinise Kunbi records of the Maratha community reported news agency PTIThe committee was formed on September 7 2023In response to Maratha quota activistManoj Jarangesdemand that Marathas be given Kunbi caste certificates so that they can avail of OBC quota the government had said those Marathas who can produce old records where they or their ancestors are identified as KunbiMaratha shall be issued such certificates reported PTIA Government Resolution GR on Wednesday said the committee will require two more months as it has to visit Hyderabad to obtain Nizamera records and also check the archaeological records in Maharashtra reported PTIA bill granting 10 per cent reservation to theMaratha communitymembers in government jobs and education was passed in a special session of the state legislature last month reported PTISome persons have filed petitions in theBombay High Courtseeking an interim stay on the Maharashtra governments moveEarlier the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigation Team SIT to investigate the allegations of conspiracy and violence during the Maratha quota stir in Maharashtra Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik will be the head of the SIT reported ANIThe SIT was formed on the instructions of the Maharashtra assembly speaker after the matter of threats issued to Deputy Chief Minister Fadanvis was raised in the Assembly by BJP MLAsOn February 28 speaking in the Maharashtra Legislative Council CM Eknath Shinde said Many leaders have become big on the issue of Martha reservation Jarange patil raised demands for Maratha reservation he didnt had any political background and even I went to him Keeping all the protocols aside I visited him twice But now he is making remarks against DCM our ministers and on the government why He is using low level language against the DCM this language is not of karaykarta its a political language There are many other castes leaving in the state but this is an attempt to creat conflict between castes too We wont tolerate such language against anyone So let SIT investigate the matter and let the truth come out doodh ka doodh paani ka pani hone do reported ANIWe have given reservation to Maratha and it will stand in the court too all the guidelines and norms of court has been studied properly and accordingly We have given reservation there is no injustice done on any other community but people are spreading rumours that this reservation wont stand in court why Who is spreading this the Maharastra CM said reported ANIJarangePatils Maratha quota campaign is accused of receiving financial support from political associates and it is alleged that he made inflammatory remarks during the course of the campaign reported ANIThe Maharashtra State Government had indicated that if Jarange Patils agitation for the Maratha Reservation is politically motivated funded and intended to cause unrest a comprehensive SIT inquiry would be conducted to assess its implications on law and order in the stateWith inputs from Agencies