Mumbai, June 27: Ruling on a clutch of petitions challenging quota to Marathas, the Bombay High Court on Thursday upheld reservation granted to the community by the state government. The bench, however, reduced the quantum of reservation, calling the proposed quota of 16 per cent "unjustifiable".

The High Court has directed the government so scale down reservation for Maratha in educational institutions to 12 per cent, down from the proposed quota rate of 16 per cent. 'Maratha Students to Get 16% Reservation in PG Medical College Admissions'

Similarly, the Devendra Fadnavis-led regime has been asked to bring down the quota percentage in government jobs to 13 per cent.

Update by ANI:

Marathas, forming a crucial bulk of Maharashtra's population, were announced reservation last year following a two-year-long agitation by the community.

Though considered as socially dominant, the Marathas rose up in protests alleging that the community has turned economically backward due to the overall decline in agriculture.

The state government had moved in amendment in 2018 to include Marathas in the list of Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC) category. A slew of petitions were subsequently moved before the Bombay HC, alleging that the reservation to Marathas is constitutionally untenable.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2019 04:24 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).