The Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to stay a resolution of the Maharashtra government issued on September 2, granting Kunbi status to Marathas of Marathwada, Live Law reported.

However, a division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad directed the state Social Justice Department to respond to the petitions challenging the resolution within four weeks.

The Kunbis form a sub-caste within the Maratha community. They are included in the Other Backward Classes.

The court was hearing a clutch of petitions filed by members of the Other Backward Classes communities, claiming that issuing Kunbi certificates to Marathas would open “a backdoor entry for the community” to claim reservation under the category.

While urging the court to order an in

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