Maharashtra PWD minister Ashok Chavan on Wednesday said giving the power to states and UTs to make their own OBC lists will not pave the way for restoring the Maratha quota which was quashed by the Supreme Court but the Centre should lift the 50% ceiling on reservations.

Chavan was reacting to reports that the Union Cabinet has cleared a Constitution amendment bill that seeks to give power to states and UTs to make their own OBC lists. The bill will now be introduced in Parliament for passage, sources had said in Delhi. The Supreme Court has dismissed the Centre's plea seeking review of the May 5 majority verdict which held that the 102nd constitution amendment took away the states' powers to declare socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) for grant of quota in jobs and admissions.