The Maharashtra government has granted a two-month extension to the five-member committee led by retired Chief Justice Sandeep Shinde. The committee was established to establish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for issuing caste certificates to Maratha community members, historically referred to as Kunbis in Nizam-era documents. The reason for the extension is the complex nature of the documents collected by the committee, which are in languages including Urdu, Farsi, and Modi lipi (an ancient Marathi script), necessitating translation.
Challenges Faced by the Committee
The committee encountered challenges in translating these documents due to the lack of readily available language experts. Additionally, the ongoing election process in Telangana has hindered the collection and examination of documents from the Nizam era located in Hyderabad, as government machinery in the region is occupied.
Background and Progress of the Committee
The committee, formed on September 7 through a Government Resolution (GR), was initially given 30 days to prepare its report, which expired on October 7. So far, the committee has conducted nine meetings and is in the process of reviewing various records from the Nizam period, including Revenue Records, Land Records, Police, Jail, Education Records, Birth and Death Certificates, Waqf Board, and Service Records. However, the translation of these records into Marathi is essential to identify the Kunbi caste records of the Maratha community.
Challenges in Document Translation
The documents from the Nizam era are primarily in Urdu, Farsi, and Modi script. Translating these documents and verifying their authenticity is a time-consuming process, as language experts for these scripts are limited in availability. The GR issued by the government on Friday stated that the old records are in deteriorating condition, further complicating the reading and verification process.
Future Plans of the Committee
The committee also intends to visit Hyderabad to inspect more historical records. However, the ongoing assembly polls in Telangana and the Model Code of Conduct have limited the availability of government officials for organizing such visits.
Concerns Raised by Maratha Activist
Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who is on an indefinite fast in Jalna over the Maratha quota issue, questioned the government’s extension to the committee. He suggested that the extension might be part of a conspiracy to deny the Maratha community their rightful quota. Patil also raised concerns about the government’s lack of consultation with the Maratha community regarding the extension.
