Maratha Quota Uproar: Maharashtra Commission Members Resign Over Alleged Government Interference

Maharashtra- In the opening week of December, a significant upheaval unfolded within the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) as two of its nine members, Balaji Killarikar and Laxman Hake, tendered their resignations. Their departure, accompanied by the looming possibility of another member, Chandralal Meshram, considering resignation, was prompted by allegations of increasing government interference in the commission's operations. This interference came to a head when the Eknath Shinde-led government tasked the quasi-judicial authority with investigating the "existence of exceptional circumstances" justifying the Maratha community's reservation exceeding the Supreme Court-mandated 50% limit.

Chief Minister Shinde, in a letter dated November 13 to Commission Chairman Justice (retired) Anand Nirgude, outlined a 10-point Terms of Reference (ToR). These directives instructed the panel to establish criteria for determining social, educational, and economic backwardness and define exceptional circumstances for reservation benefits. Critics among the commission members argue that the ToR implicitly pressures the commission to gather data justifying Maratha community reservation—a contentious issue that has fueled state-wide protests since Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil's demand for caste-based reservation.

In a December 1 meeting, dissenting members rejected the idea of collecting data exclusively on Marathas, advocating instead for data collection encompassing all communities. The unnamed fourth member asserted the commission's independence, emphasizing that it should collect and analyze data independently before drawing conclusions about the backwardness of any community. This member contended that the government's predetermined assumption about Marathas' backwardness undermines the commission's autonomy.

Several commission members openly opposed the government's alleged interference:

Laxman Hake: A prominent OBC activist and leader from Solapur district in western Maharashtra, Hake has a history of working with the Rashtriya Samaj Party (RSP). Known for advocating the rights of seasonal workers in sugarcane harvesting and nomadic tribes like the Dhangars, Hake joined the Shiv Sena in 2022 and currently serves as a local spokesperson. He resigned on December 2, citing unacceptable government interference.

Balaji Killarikar (55, Advocate): Killarikar, an advocate at the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court for over two decades, is a strong proponent of the independence of bodies like the MSBCC. Renowned for using Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to address various issues, including workplace sexual harassment and the protection of backward class rights, Killarikar resigned on December 1. He emphasized the commission's duty to provide factual reports rather than cater to government preferences.

Chandralal Meshram (68, Retired Judge): Meshram, a retired judge from a district and sessions court, has not yet resigned but expressed contemplation about doing so. Rejecting the notion of acting as government servants, Meshram emphasized the need for independence in decision-making. He intends to discuss his decision with seniors before making a final call in the next few days.