Maharashtra government has collected 70 pieces of “legal evidence” to support its stand in the Bombay High Court that Maratha community needed reservation, state Education Minister Vinod Tawde said.
“In order to put up our stand strongly before the High Court on Maratha reservation issue, we have collected all legal evidence. We are ready to put up our case before the High Court. The hearing would start on October 13,” Tawde said.
He was addressing the reporters here after a meeting of Maratha Arakshan Samiti, also attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Co-operation minister Chandrakant Patil, PWD minister Eknath Shinde, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, legal experts and principal secretaries of various departments.
“During the hearing, the government will submit 70 pieces of evidence to the Court on why reservation for Marathas is necessary, how they have remained largely backward and their financial condition is not good,” he said.
He also said Fadnavis today took a review of the evidence to be submitted and the way in which lawyers would present the government’s case.
As per the Minister, senior lawyer Harish Salve has agreed to represent the government.
