Chairperson Justice Anand Nirgude of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) resigned from his post on December 4. His resignation was accepted by the state government on December 9 during the ongoing winter session of the state legislature. Notably, the legislature was not informed through the state government regarding Nirgude’s resignation.

This move follows the resignations of Balaji Killarikar and Laxman Hake, who submitted their resignations as two members of the commission earlier this month. The main reason behind their resignations was the alleged “growing interference” of the state government in the operation of the commission, which has been examining the issue of the backwardness of Marathas since the recent agitation for reservation for the community.

Confirming the acceptance of the resignation by the state government, Nirgude told The Indian Express, “I do not want to comment any further. You can ask the government about everything else.”

Although the resignation letter was written and submitted to CM Eknath Shinde on December 4, the Maharashtra government on December 9 conveyed to the member secretary of the Commission that the resignation had been accepted.

The Eknath Shinde-led government directed the Commission, a quasi-judicial body, to ascertain if exceptional circumstances justify exceeding the 50% reservation limit for the Maratha community, as set by the Supreme Court. This request, found within the Terms of Reference (ToR) detailed in a letter from Shinde to the MSBCC chairman, has triggered concerns among Commission members regarding perceived interference.

Also Read:Man raises slogans near Chhagan Bhujbal’s vehicle, warns against opposing Maratha quota agitation

Killarikar referred to the “biased” and “agenda-driven” functionality of the panel, pointing towards the reason for their resignation being interference from the government.

On the other hand, Justice (retd) Chandralal Meshram told The Indian Express he was also contemplating resignation. “We are not government servants. We are not supposed to work based on government orders. I have yet not made a decision, but yes, I am thinking about resigning. I will discuss with some seniors and take a call in the next two or three days,” he said.

Specifically, two members have resigned, citing biased proceedings and government interference, while another is contemplating resignation due to similar concerns. Moreover, dissent arose during a meeting where certain members disapproved of exclusively collecting data on Marathas, advocating instead for a broader approach encompassing all communities.

Also Read:Maratha community protests against Chhagan Bhujbal for ‘inflammatory’ speech, seeks his ouster

The ToR, encompassing ten points, tasks the panel with determining criteria to assess social, educational, and economic backwardness and define exceptional circumstances for reservation benefits.

The ToR asked the panel to collect fresh data concerning the Maratha community’s backwardness, aiming to reconsider their inclusion in the list of backward classes. Notably, the objective behind this action stems from protests advocating the Maratha reservation led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, pressuring the government to assign OBC certificates to Marathas swiftly. This move, however, has stirred protests among OBCs fearing a reduction in their share of reservation.

The Maratha agitation in Maharashtra, led by social activist Manoj Jarange Patil, pressured the state government to grant OBC certificates to the Maratha community. However, this action triggered protests among other OBC groups, concerned about a potential reduction in their reservation quotas. Complicating matters further, the state government’s pending curative petition in the Supreme Court regarding Maratha reservation necessitates crucial data on the Maratha community’s socio-economic backwardness from the commission.