In Brief
The Supreme Court considered whether Maharashtra's 2018 law providing 16% reservation for Marathas in education and public employment exceeded the 50% ceiling established in Indra Sawhney. The High Court had reduced this to 12-13%. The Court held that the 50% limit is binding, not merely advisory; relaxation requires truly extraordinary circumstances (such as isolated remote communities), not merely socio-economic backwardness. The Court found no special case made out by Maharashtra. The Court referred the matter to a larger Bench to address the 102nd Amendment's effect on state power to declare backward classes, but granted interim relief: admissions and appointments for 2020-21 shall proceed without implementing the Act, as implementation would cause irreparable harm to general category candidates.
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