Maharashtra recruitment spree under new quota rules

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, December 5

The Maharashtra Government is working on a plan to fill up vacancies in a number of departments following the 16 per cent reservations for the Maratha community.

According to sources here, Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain has been asked to identify posts in every department that could be brought under the Social and Economically Backward Class quota under which Marathas have been given reservations. Sources say recruitments for more than 70,000 vacant posts in various departments, including the state police force, will begin before the Lok Sabha elections are announced early next year.

Sources say the number of new jobs under various reserved categories would be higher than 68 per cent as many reserved posts haven't been filled up in many departments.

The actual number of vacancies and the categories they fall under would be known by the end of December, according to state government officials.

Sources say, the Maharashtra government had planned to undertake a recruitment drive earlier this year. However this was stalled due to the agitation by the Maratha community for reservations.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has scheduled hearing of a public interest litigation petition against the 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community on December 10. The petition has been filed by advocate Gunratna Sadavarte.

Organisations representing the Maratha community have filed caveats before the Bombay High Court seeking to be heard in the matter. The Maharashtra Government has also filed a caveat before the Supreme Court.