Maratha Reservations Hearings: Arguments Matrix

Over 2 weeks of March, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court heard arguments in Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil v Chief Minister, Maharashtra. The petitioners in the case challenged the constitutional validity of Maharashtra’s Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Act, 2018, which grants reservations to the Maratha community in education and public employment.

The petitioners argued that the Act breached the 50% limit on reservations, and failed to comply with the 102nd Constitution Amendment. The respondent, the State of Maharashtra argued against this. They seek to question the 50% limit and interpret the 102nd Amendment in the States favours. Multiple States and the Union of India also submitted a similar position. After hearing various other intervenors, the Court has reserved its judgment.

Look at the table below for an overview of arguments and what possible outcomes might look like.