A month after saying it would direct theMaharashtraState Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) to collect empirical data on OBCs as soon as possible in order to restore their political reservation in local bodies, the state is yet to release funds of Rs 435 crore for the survey.
The state said the delay is because of a difference of opinion on data collection method. While the MSBCC wants to conduct a full caste census, the government feels random sampling and use of secondary data will suffice. We have asked thecommission secretary to request the MSBCCto consider the request and get back to us, said a senior official.
Another key issue is the ability to define the political backwardness of OBCs. Designing a questionnaire for this is more difficult than one which is used to establish the economic backwardness of a community. In March, the SC had struck down the 27% OBC quota for local body polls on the grounds that the combined quota of SC, ST and OBCs could not exceed the 50% cap. The SC asked for empirical data on OBCs in each local body to allow for a restoration of the quota within the 50% cap.
The state faces local body for six zilla parishads and their panchayat samitis on October 6. The State Government decided to issue an ordinance to provide for the OBC quota in rural local body polls by amending the states gram panchayat law. The quota had been quashed by the SC in March. The ordinance allows for OBC quota in rural bodies with the rider that once combined with the SC and ST reservations, the combined quota will not cross the 50% limit. Also, the OBC quota will not cross 27% of the seats, in keeping with the existing state legislation. However, theState Election Commissionsaid the ordinance would not apply to the upcoming zilla parishad polls.