Maharashtra Government scrapped 5% reservations to Muslims in government jobs

State Government of Maharashtra on 4 March 2015 scrapped the resolution that provided five percent reservations to Muslims in Maharashtra government jobs. The resolution was announced by the erstwhile Congress-NCP government just before Assembly polls in 2014.

In this regard, Devendra Fadnavis headed BJP government released a resolution stating that the ordinance to provide a five per cent job quota to Muslims stands scrapped.

The ordinance was passed by the previous government on 24 July 2014 and lapsed on 23 December 2014.

Background
Congress-NCP led government of Maharashtra in June 2014 had approved a 16 percent reservation for Marathas and five percent for Muslims ahead of the Assembly polls that were held on 15 October 2014.  

These quotas were given through two separate categories namely the Educationally and Socially Backward Category (ESBC) for Marathas as well as a Special Backward Class (Muslims) segment for the Muslims.

The Bombay High Court on 14 November 2014 had put a stay on the 16 percent reservation to Marathas in jobs and education from implementation in the state. The court had also stayed the decision on five percent reservation to Muslims in government jobs but allowed quotas for Muslims in educational institutions.

This was challenged by the then Maharashtra government in the Supreme Court which refused to interfere with the interim decision of the High Court. But the Supreme Court asked the state government of Maharashtra to go back to the Bombay High Court on the issue.