The Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018 was enacted to grant reservation to people of Maratha community in Maharashtra in jobs and admissions.
The Bombay High Court has upheld the Maratha quota, declaring it constitutionally valid. However, the court has also recommended decreasing the quota percentage.
The Maratha community, which constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population, has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education for a long time.
Thousands of protesters had hit the streets of Maharashtra under the aegis of the Maratha Kranti Morcha to seek reservations in jobs and education in August.
In July this year, the government had announced 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs, which was later stayed following protests.
The assurance came when he met 22 prominent personalities from the community to discuss the issue, after which a joint appeal was issued for exercising restraint and maintaining peace.