The Maharashtra government has allotted space in Mantralaya to the committee set up to determine the standard operating procedure (SOP) for issuing Kunbi caste certificates to members of the Maratha community from the Marathwada region.
The committee, headed by retired Justice Sandip Shinde, has been allotted space on the 7th floor of the state secretariat for holding meetings. The government has also allotted 20-member staff to the committee, including an official of the rank of the additional secretary and desk officers.
The state cabinet had decided in August to issue Kunbi caste certificates to those Marathas from the Marathwada region who possess revenue or education documents from the Nizam era that recognise them as Kunbis. Kunbis are grouped under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in Maharashtra.
The decision to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region was taken after the community demanded it, arguing that they were historically disadvantaged due to their inclusion in the Maratha caste. The Maratha caste is not considered to be a backward caste in Maharashtra, and therefore does not qualify for OBC benefits.
The issue of Kunbi caste certificates has been a contentious one for many years. In 2018, the Bombay High Court ruled that the Maharashtra government could not issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas. However, in 2021, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s ruling and allowed the state government to issue Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region.
The allotment of space in Mantralaya to the Maratha panel and the provision of staff is a significant development for the community. It shows that the Maharashtra government is committed to issuing Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas from the Marathwada region.