After a hullabaloo in both the houses over the past two weeks, the Maharashtra Legislature passed a Bill on Thursday to grant the distressed Maratha community, a 16% quota in jobs and education in a separate category, without debate and opposition.

The Maratha reservation will be in addition to the existing cap of 50% so the right of other backward communities isn't affected. The law will come into force immediately after the governor ratifies it in a couple of days, sources said.

The Bill and Action Taken Report (ATR) on the State Backward Class Commission's recommendations was tabled by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the legislature on Thursday, a day before the winter session's culmination on Friday. The Act is called the Maharashtra State Reservation (of seats for admission in educational institutes in the state and for appointments in the public services and posts under the state) for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act, 2018.