" The Maharashtra government has approved Kunbi caste certificates for Marathas via the Hyderabad Gazette "
Mumbai, September 2, 2025 — In a significant advancement that could end weeks of agitation, the Maharashtra government has announced a formal relief mechanism for the Maratha community. The breakthrough comes through a Government Resolution (GR) acknowledging historical documents—most notably the Hyderabad Gazette—to facilitate Kunbi-identity certificates and extend OBC benefits to eligible Marathas. The move was finalized following intensive protests and drew widespread attention from the judiciary, political parties, and social activists.
MARATHA AGITATION AND HUNGER STRIKE
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil intensified pressure on the state administration with an indefinite hunger strike that began on August 29, 2025, at Azad Maidan, Mumbai. He demanded official recognition of Marathas as Kunbis, based on historic records from the Hyderabad, Satara, Aundh, and Bombay Gazettes. His protest attracted thousands of supporters and disrupted traffic in central Mumbai.
The situation escalated when Jarange threatened to cease drinking water, heightening concerns over his health and prompting the intervention of the Bombay High Court (HC).
BOMBAY HIGH COURT INTERVENES
On September 2, the Bombay HC called the Maratha agitation a “very serious” challenge and criticized the government’s inadequate handling of the unrest. Authorities were urged to restore order in compliance with well-defined legal protocols.
In parallel, the committee formed under Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil engaged directly with Jarange at the protest site, setting the stage for a breakthrough.
GOVERNMENT ENDORSES HYDERABAD GAZETTE AND ISSUES RELIEF MEASURES
Later that same day, following Cabinet sub-committee deliberations, the government agreed to most of Jarange’s demands. A Government Resolution was drafted to legitimize the issuance of Kunbi caste certificates to Marathas, initially confined to those from the Marathwada region substantiated through the Hyderabad Gazette.
Jarange welcomed the approval and declared, “We have won.” He announced that protesters would vacate Mumbai by 9 pm, provided the GRs are formally issued.
WHAT THE GR INCLUDES : KEY HIGHLIGHTS
According to official drafts:
- Kunbi Certificates : Marathas from the Marathwada region can obtain Kunbi certificates if their families are linked to entries in the Hyderabad Gazette (1918 and later).
- OBC Benefits : Once recognized as Kunbis, eligible Marathas can access existing OBC reservation benefits in education and jobs.
- Legal Cases Withdrawn : Criminal cases filed during the protests will be withdrawn by September 30, 2025.
- Financial Support : Families of those who lost their lives in the agitation will receive government compensation and support in jobs.
- Satara Gazette Implementation : Similar recognition through the Satara Gazette is expected within a month.
Additionally, the sub-committee will explore issuing a GR stating that Marathas and Kunbis belong to the same social group—this legal process is expected to take up to two months.
RELIEF SPURS BROADER POLICY SHIFT
Prior to this GR, the government had already extended initiatives for Kunbi certificate issuance, offering relief to many Marathas who qualify for OBC benefits.
Still, the National OBC Mukti Morcha criticized the dual strategy as confusing and potentially undermining existing OBC quotas, urging clarity from the administration.
LEGAL LEGACY : WHY GAZETTE RECORDS MATTER
Experts explain that under the Hyderabad Gazette (1918) and similar colonial-era documents, Marathas—especially in Marathwada—were categorized with Kunbis, a recognized OBC community in Maharashtra. That historical equivalence became the legal basis for extending reservation benefits.
This method circumvents past legal hurdles. In 2021, the Supreme Court declared the “Maratha Reservation Law” unconstitutional by citing limits on state power to recognize new SEBC groups.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
With Jarange calling off the stir, normalcy is expected to return to Mumbai. The state now faces the task of implementing the GR, processing Certificates swiftly, and clarifying how future gazette-based concessions will be handled.
POLITICAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT
The relief is being seen as a political balancing act by the
ruling coalition in Maharashtra.
- For
Marathas: It addresses decades of demand and immediately cools down
agitations.
- For
OBC groups: There are concerns that including more Marathas under OBC
will dilute existing benefits, and some organizations have already voiced
opposition.
- For
the Government: It avoids direct confrontation with the judiciary
while earning goodwill from the Maratha community, which holds significant
electoral weight.
SUMMARY
In essence, the government’s GR represents a landmark resolution—balancing public pressure, legal precedent, and administrative prudence. By grounding its relief in historical records like the Hyderabad Gazette, the state has taken a measured approach to address deep-rooted community grievances while maintaining legal integrity.
