Bombay High Court Forms Special Bench to Hear SEBC Act, 2024 Challenges.Maratha Reservation

Maratha Quota Under Scrutiny Again: Bombay High court 

Development that could impact thousands of students and job aspirants across Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court has constituted a special full bench to hear legal challenges against the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2024—the latest legislative attempt by the state government to provide reservation for the Maratha community.

According to an official notification issued on Thursday, the newly constituted bench comprises Justice Ravindra Ghuge, Justice NJ Jamadar, and Justice Sandeep Marne. The bench will hear Public Interest Litigations (PILs) and civil writ petitions questioning the validity and implementation of the new SEBC law.

Supreme Court Pushes for Urgent Hearing

This move by the Bombay High Court comes just a day after the Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, directed the High Court to urgently constitute a bench to hear the matter. The direction was issued while the apex court was hearing a petition filed by NEET 2025 aspirants, who have raised concerns about the academic disruption caused by the implementation of the Maratha quota.

The Supreme Court clarified that while it would not examine the merits of the petition—since similar challenges are already pending before the Bombay High Court—it strongly emphasized the need for prompt consideration of interim relief due to its immediate impact on ongoing admissions.

A Second Attempt at Maratha Reservation

The SEBC Act, 2024 is not Maharashtra’s first attempt to reserve seats for the Maratha community. Back in 2018, the state passed a similar law (also titled SEBC Act), granting 16% reservation in education and public employment. That law was challenged and eventually upheld by the Bombay High Court in June 2019, though the reservation percentage was reduced to 12% in education and 13% in jobs.

However, the legal journey did not end there. In May 2021, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court struck down the 2018 law, ruling that the Maratha community could not be considered socially and educationally backward under constitutional standards. The apex court also reaffirmed the 50% cap on reservations, established in the landmark Indra Sawhney judgment.

The State of Maharashtra filed a review petition, but that too was dismissed by the Supreme Court in April 2023.

What Lies Ahead?

With the formation of this special bench, all eyes are now on the Bombay High Court. The outcome of this case will not only shape the future of Maratha reservations but also influence the broader constitutional discourse around affirmative action and reservation caps in India.

For now, students, job seekers, and legal observers await clarity, hoping for a resolution that balances social justice with constitutional integrity.