The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to hear petitions against Maharashtra government’s decision to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Maratha community members. Petitioners argued that the resolution changed criteria for certificates of Kunbi, Kunbi Maratha, and Maratha Kunbi groups.
The petitions were filed by Kunbi Sena, Maharashtra Mali Samaj Mahasangh, and Ahir Suvarnkar Samaj Sanstha. The bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sandesh Dadasaheb Patil said it would wait for instructions from the Chief Justice on which bench should hear the petitions.
Senior advocates for petitioners said the Chief Justice’s bench had already dismissed a plea. They noted that writ petitions were listed for hearing on Monday. After brief discussions, the court refused to hear the petitions. The petitioners will now approach the Chief Justice’s bench for early hearing or interim relief.
Kunbi Sena’s plea described the resolution as vague and warned it could create chaos in Maharashtra. The petition claimed the process aimed to include Marathas in Other Backward Classes. It also sought a temporary halt on the resolution’s implementation, issued during Maratha activist Manoj Jarange’s fast-unto-death protest in Mumbai.
