Bombay HC refuses to stay Maharashtra resolution granting Kunbi status to Marathas

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to stay a resolution of the Maharashtra government issued on September 2, granting Kunbi status to Marathas of Marathwada, Live Law reported.

However, a division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad directed the state Social Justice Department to respond to the petitions challenging the resolution within four weeks.

The Kunbis form a sub-caste within the Maratha community. They are included in the Other Backward Classes.

The court was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by members of the Other Backward Classes communities, claiming that issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas would open “a backdoor entry for the community” to claim reservation under the category.

While urging the court to order an interim stay on the resolution, the petitioners highlighted that civic elections across Maharashtra were due to take place and the resolution may allow ineligible persons to “get a certificate to contest from seats meant for reserved categories”, Live Law reported.

“It would lead to an irreversible situation,” the petitioners’ counsel argued.

The Supreme Court has set January 31, 2026, as the final deadline to hold local body polls in the state.

The government resolution came following a five-day stir by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan.

Jarange-Patil had launched a hunger strike on August 29 to reiterate his demand for reservations in government...

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