MUMBAI: The Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday gave its approval for reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and educational institutes under a new category called Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). The decision comes months after massive protests by members of the community demanding reservation in education and jobs. Addressing the media here after a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community in SEBC category as per the recommendation of the commission

He said the Backward Class Commission in its report made three recommendations and the cabinet has accepted them. "We received the Backward Class Commission report with 3 recommendations. Independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community in SEBC. We have accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them," he said.

"The state cabinet has accepted the backward class commission's report for Maratha reservation. Quantum of reservation will be fixed by the cabinet sub-committee assigned to chalk out technical aspects of the bill (granting quota) which will be tabled in the coming session," he said.

The commission had submitted its report to Chief Secretary DK Jain on Thursday in which it stated that the community is socially and economically backward.

According to government sources, the commission's report has said that Marathas are a "socially and educationally backward class of citizens" with minuscule representation in government and semi-government services.

A socially and educationally backward class can be extended benefits of reservation under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution, and in view of such extra-ordinary and exceptional condition, the state government is liable to take action, the report has said, sources maintained.

The politically dominant Maratha community constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had told reporters in Akola on Wednesday that his government would complete all legal formalities by the end of November to grant reservations to the Maratha community.

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.

On June 25, 2014, months before the assembly polls, the then Congress-NCP government under then chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced 16 per cent reservation quota in government jobs and in educational institutions for Marathas and five percent quotas for the Muslim community.

However, on November 14, 2014, the Bombay High Court stayed the government decision and on November 18, 2014, the Supreme Court had declined to vacate the HC stay.

(With inputs from PTI)