Discrepancies in validating Kunbi caste certificates: Jarange-Patil

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is once again squaring off with the Maharashtra government, this time over alleged discrepancies in the verification and approval of Kunbi caste certificates as well as in their cancellations. Mr Jarange-Patil, to take cognisance of the issue, announced a tour of several parts of Marathwada and Western Maharashtra, starting Friday (August 7, 2026).

“The government allowed the issue of Kunbi caste certificates but also cancelled those,” he said, calling it a strategy to prevent the Maratha community from receiving rightful reservation.

Mr. Jarange-Patil has set an August 29 deadline and threatened a fresh “final” agitation over delays and denials in the certificate process.

What is the issue?

Recently, the Kunbi caste certificates of four elected women representatives in the Marathwada region were cancelled. The list includes Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Zilla Parishad member Jyoti Shinde, Gangapur municipal councillor Varsha Gaikwad, Parbhani Zilla Parishad member Komal Parve, and Rekha Sarode, a Majalgaon municipality councillor in Beed. 

The reason for their cancellation reportedly was failure to establish documentary evidence of paternal blood relatives belonging to the Kunbi community.

Under a 2025 government resolution, the State government granted Maratha reservation, providing quota in education and jobs to the members of the Maratha community having lineage of the Kunbi community. Kunbi is recognised under the OBC (Other Backwards Class) category in Maharashtra, by default providing reservation to the Maratha community from OBC. According to the Shinde committee, 

According to the Justice (Retd) Sandeep Shinde Committee, constituted in September 2023 to examine historical land and revenue records for “Maratha-Kunbi” and “Kunbi-Maratha” entries, 58 lakh entries have been identified. The validity of the committee was extended till 30 June 2027.

In January 2024, the government notified the sage-soyare (blood relatives) policy. Following this, district-level reservation cells were established to expedite scrutiny and certificate issuance. Now, the conflict stands at the legality of issuing Kunbi certificates and the interpretation of the 58 lakh entries. 

Allegations

In May, the activist handed over a 12-point proposal to address the issues, including issuance of certificates based on the identified 58 lakh Kunbi records with documents to be displayed at village gram panchayat offices, action against official officers denying certificates, implementation of Satara, Aundh, and Hyderabad other gazettes, and validation of issued certificates. 

In the last three years, Mr. Jarange has staged nine hunger strikes. The latest was in May over the discrepancies in validation of issued certificates.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Bawankule said, “Government does not influence the operation of caste scrutiny committees as they are a quasi-judicial body functioning independently. If there are issues can hit the Bombay HC.”

Mr. Jarange Patil has set an August 29 deadline and threatened a fresh “final” agitation over delays and denials in the certificate process.