Jarange-Patil Rejects State Handling of Kunbi Caste Certification Amid Legal Disputes

The Roots of the Conflict

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil has launched a new campaign across Marathwada and Western Maharashtra starting August 7, 2026. The move follows allegations that the state government is systematically undermining the Maratha community by both withholding and revoking Kunbi caste certificates. The activist contends that the administration is using verification hurdles as a strategy to deny rightful reservation benefits.

Key Facts

• Manoj Jarange-Patil has established an August 29 deadline for the state to fix certification issues or face a final agitation.
• Four female elected representatives, including Zilla Parishad members from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani, recently saw their Kunbi certificates cancelled.
• The Justice Sandeep Shinde Committee identified 58 million historical records linking Marathas to the Kunbi community.
• Revenue Minister Bawankule maintains that caste scrutiny committees operate as independent quasi-judicial bodies beyond government influence.
• A 2025 government resolution currently grants education and job quotas to Maratha members who can prove Kunbi lineage.

Background

The controversy stems from the interpretation of sage-soyare (blood relative) policies notified in January 2024. While the Shinde Committee, whose mandate was recently extended to June 2027, found millions of relevant revenue and land records, the actual issuance of certificates remains stalled by documentation requirements. Specifically, applicants must prove paternal blood ties to the Kunbi community, a category already recognized under the Other Backward Class (OBC) framework. Jarange-Patil has previously conducted nine hunger strikes over the last three years to pressure the government on these validation standards.

Why It Matters

The outcome of this dispute determines the accessibility of OBC reservation benefits for the Maratha community. Currently, the activist demands that the 58 million identified records be displayed at gram panchayat offices to facilitate transparency. He also seeks the implementation of historical gazettes from Satara, Aundh, and Hyderabad to validate claims. The government's refusal to interfere with committee decisions suggests a potential legal deadlock, with officials directing aggrieved parties to the Bombay High Court for resolution.