The Maharashtra government has officially cancelled the five per cent reservation that had been designated for sections of the Muslim community in government and semi-government jobs and educational institutions. A fresh Government Resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday nullifies all earlier decisions and orders related to this quota.
The policy, first introduced as part of an ordinance in 2014 and intended to place certain Muslim groups under the Special Backward Category-A (SBC-A), had faced legal challenges and never became law after the original ordinance lapsed. Authorities say this move now brings official clarity to the issue.
History of the Quota and Legal Context
The five per cent reservation was initially announced in 2014 by the then Congress-NCP government ahead of assembly elections, aimed at addressing educational and employment backwardness among Muslims by providing affirmative action benefits in jobs and admissions.
Soon after its introduction, the quota faced legal challenges; the Bombay High Court stayed its implementation and, because it was not enacted into law by the end of that year, it lapsed automatically. Subsequent court rulings also voided parts of the policy, leaving it legally defunct for years.
With the new GR, the Social Justice Department has now formally withdrawn the residency quotas, cancelled all related certificates — including caste and non-creamy layer certs issued under this category and ended any administrative backing for the policy.
Impact on Certificates and Admissions
Under the updated resolution:
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New caste and validity certificates under the Special Backward Category for Muslims will no longer be issued.
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Admissions and recruitments under the repealed quota are now officially invalid.
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All older decisions and circulars connected to the quota have been declared void.
Officials emphasized that this decision aligns administrative practice with the legal reality following years of litigation and court rulings against the quota’s enforceability.