New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Maharashtra government's response to a plea challenging the legality of the Banthiya Commission report and seeking to quash the same on the grounds that it fails to provide political reservation to the "backward class" in the Local Bodies.

The plea filed by Youth For Equality Foundation also seeks directions to the Maharashtra government to form a new dedicated commission to conduct an empirical study on political backwardness in all local bodies in the State and to identify politically backward classes in terms of Articles 243D (6) and 243T (6) (provisions mandating reservations for backward castes/women in Panchayat and Local Body elections) of the Constitution of India.

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