Set up new bench to hear Maratha quota pleas: SC

The Supreme Court has asked the chief justice of the Bombay high court to expeditiously decide on a batch of petitions challenging the 10% reservation granted to the Maratha community.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

The top court's direction on May 13 came in a writ petition filed by students appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) postgraduate and undergraduate exams of 2025.

The students argued that their pleas were heard and arguments before the high court concluded in April last year, but the matter has not been listed since. They added that the delay in adjudication of the matter was adversely impacting their right to fair and equal consideration in the ongoing admission process.

As the issue concerned careers of thousands of students, a bench of justices BR Gavai (now CJI) and Augustine George Masih asked the chief justice of the Bombay high court to constitute a bench and hear the matter expeditiously.

The order, which is yet to be uploaded online, also asked the high court to decide on the application of the students for interim relief as well.