Maharashtra government scraps 5% quota for Muslims in jobs and education

Mumbai: The government led by Devendra Fadnavis in Maharashtra has officially withdrawn the 5 per cent reservation that was earlier granted to Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions, delivering a major setback to the minority community.

In a notification issued on Tuesday, the state government stated that the decision was taken in view of an interim stay granted by the court on the quota. Citing the legal position, the government said that the 5 per cent reservation for the Muslim community could not be continued and has therefore been cancelled.

The reservation traces its origins to 2014, when the then Congress–NCP government announced a 5 per cent quota for minorities, including Muslims, in education and public employment.

The decision was formalised through an ordinance ahead of the Assembly elections that year. However, after the BJP–Shiv Sena alliance came to power following its victory in the 2014 Maharashtra Assembly polls, the ordinance lapsed.

With the latest notification, the Maharashtra government has annulled all orders issued in 2014 and 2015 relating to the minority quota. Officials said the move was in compliance with legal developments and aimed at avoiding administrative complications arising from the court’s interim stay.

The decision has triggered sharp political reactions. Opposition parties have accused the BJP-led government of targeting minorities and failing to safeguard their constitutional rights.

National spokesperson of the NCP (SP), Clyde Crasto, criticised the move, stating that the scrapping of the 5 per cent quota demonstrates that the BJP leadership does not respect its Muslim leaders or allies. He alleged that the development shows Muslim leaders within the BJP are unable to secure justice for the community.

On the other hand, BJP leaders have maintained that the government is bound by judicial directions and cannot implement a policy that is under legal scrutiny. They argue that any reservation policy must withstand constitutional and judicial examination.

The issue of minority reservation has been politically sensitive in Maharashtra for over a decade, often surfacing during election cycles. With the latest order, the debate over affirmative action for Muslims in the state is likely to intensify, setting the stage for renewed political confrontation between the ruling alliance and the opposition.

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