Mumbai High Court: Special hearing in High Court for Maratha reservation after SC order

The Bombay High Court has constituted a special full bench to hear petitions challenging the Maratha reservation law, following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The move comes after the Maharashtra state government, earlier in 2024, enacted legislation granting a 10 percent reservation to the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions.

The law was introduced to address the social and economic concerns of the Maratha community, but it soon faced legal challenges, prompting a judicial review. A special full bench comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge, Justice Sandeep Marne, and Justice Nizamuddin Jamadar has now been set up to preside over the matter. This decision follows an order from the Supreme Court bench headed by the recently appointed Chief Justice of India, Justice Bhushan Gavai.

In response, the Bombay High Court has announced that a special full bench, now under the leadership of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe, will resume hearings related to the Maratha reservation petitions. A notice regarding the hearing has also been published on the official website of the High Court; however, it does not provide any specific details on the reservation issue itself. The regular court sessions are scheduled to begin in June, and it is anticipated that the hearing on the Maratha reservation case will be among the matters taken up.

Previously, the case was being heard by a full bench led by then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay. By that time, arguments from all petitioners had been completed, and the state government had also begun presenting its case. On April 16, 2024, the bench had clarified that any admissions or government job appointments made under the Maratha reservation law would remain subject to the final judgment on the petitions.

However, with the transfer of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay in January 2025, the hearing process was left incomplete. The newly formed bench is now expected to continue proceedings from where they were left off. The case holds significant implications for the future of caste-based reservations in Maharashtra, and the upcoming hearings are expected to draw close public and political attention.