Maratha Reservation case physical hearing in SC from March 8

The Supreme Court will hold a physical hearing on Maratha reservation from March 8, 2021. The state government has demanded that the Supreme Court start hearing on the Maratha reservation on Friday. This time the Supreme Court has given this important decision. The Supreme Court will hear the Maratha reservation between March 8 and 18. Even if physical hearing does not start by March 8, the Maratha Reservation case will be heard from that date via virtual mode, the Bench made it clear.

The Supreme Court will, in all likelihood, resume physical hearing of cases in a limited manner from March 2021. This was stated in open Court by a Constitution Bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan hearing the case relating to Maratha Reservation.

The petitioners have challenged the Bombay High Court ruling of June 2019 which had upheld the validity of the Maharashtra State Reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act. The Act provides for reservation in employment and education to the Maratha community.

"The Supreme Court has given March 8, 9 and 10 to the opponents of reservation, March 12, 15, 16 and 17 to the supporters and March 18 to the Central Government. The government should fight with full force without repeating the previous mistakes, we are with it! #CMO," tweeted Vinod Patil, Petioner Maratha Reservation president. 

Maratha Reservation: Hearing commences before Constitution Bench.

Mukul Rohatgi tells court volumes of documents are being printed and it will take 2 weeks. Rohatgi asks court to fix the matter in 1st week of March to fix a date considering physical hearing might commence then. pic.twitter.com/j6mPxGIT2z

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 5, 2021

Sibal says matter has to be referred to 11- judge bench to consider the aspect of whether reservation can exceed 50 percent.

Bench says 5-judge bench will consider that aspect#MarathaReservation

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) February 5, 2021