In Brief
A Constitution Bench held that the Maharashtra SEBC Act, 2018 granting 12-16% reservation to Marathas beyond the 50% ceiling is unconstitutional. The court reaffirmed the 50% limit from Indra Sawhney as binding law, holding the Gaikwad Commission erred in its representation analysis and that Marathas have adequate public employment representation (30-37%). The court rejected reopening the reservation debate, finding no extraordinary circumstances justifying breach of the ceiling. Rejecting demands for centralized SEBC identification, the bench held the 102nd Amendment creates only a Central List for Union services, leaving states' powers under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) intact.
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