New Delhi, Jan 19 (Agency) The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered the state of Maharashtra to submit the data and information available in connection with Other Backward Classes (OBCs) with the Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission (MSBCC). A Bench of the Apex Court, headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar, and also comprising Justices Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar, said that the Committee may submit the interim report, if so advised, to the concerned authorities within two weeks from the receipt of information or data from the state government. The Apex Court passed the judgement in an interlocutory application filed by the state of Maharashtra, urging the Court to permit the election on the basis of information and data already available with the state concerning OBC.
“Instead of examining the correctness of data furnished along with the application, appropriate course for the state is to produce the data and further information before the state-appointed dedicated commission, which in turn can examine the correctness and if deem it appropriate to make recommendation to the state on the basis of which, further steps can be taken by the Commission, as the case may be,” observed the Bench. It further said that the observations made in the order would also govern the dispensation in other states, including the state of Madhya Pradesh, which intends to proceed with the election of local government and providing reservation to OBC. The State Election Commission told the Court that based on the December 15 order, elections were held by converting OBC seats as general seats and results were to be notified on Thursday. Senior Advocate and former Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Vikas Singh appeared for petitioner Rahul Ramesh Wagh, while Shekhar Naphade represented the State of Maharashtra, Ajit Kadethankar (for SEC) V Giri, and Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appeared for the Union of India.