The Bombay High Court will begin a fresh hearing on October 9 on petitions challenging Maharashtra’s 10% reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education, after a new full bench was constituted to hear the case.
The new bench comprises Justice Makarand Karnik, Justice Nizamuddin Jamadar and Justice Sandeep Marne. Its first hearing took place on Friday, when the court formally took up the matter following the reconstitution of the bench.
The petitions oppose the reservation provided to the Maratha community in public employment and educational admissions. The case had been heard regularly for nearly a year by a bench comprising Justice Ravindra Ghuge, Justice Jamadar and Justice Marne. The petitioners’ arguments had been completed, and Maharashtra Advocate General Milind Sathe had begun presenting the state government’s arguments.
The change became necessary after Justice Ghuge was appointed Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court. According to the report, bench composition changes require the matter to be heard afresh. The new bench has therefore been formed under Justice Karnik’s chairmanship, and proceedings will restart from the beginning.
Senior advocate Pradeep Sancheti, representing petitioner Sanjeet Shukla, said the petitions were being heard afresh for the third time, following earlier bench changes after judicial transfers.
The repeated reconstitution has extended the procedural timeline in this case involving reservation in government recruitment and education. Fresh hearings will begin on October 9 before the new bench.
