Who is Gunaratna Sadavarte? Biography, Age, Wife, Religion, Wiki, Family, Education
Gunaratna Sadavarte is a prominent lawyer and activist who has been in the limelight for his role in challenging the reservation given to the Maratha community by the Maharashtra government in 2018.
He successfully argued in the Supreme Court that the quota was unconstitutional and violated the principle of equality. In this article, we will explore his life, career, family, and achievements.
Early Life and Education
Gunaratna Sadavarte was born between 1974 and 1976 in Nanded district, which is situated on the border between Maharashtra and Telangana. His father, Nivritti Sadavarte, was an employee in the police department. He grew up in a humble background and developed an interest in social issues from a young age.
He completed his schooling at a local high school and then pursued his graduation from a local college. He later obtained his law degree from a reputed institution. He also ran an organization called ‘Samyak Vidyarthi Andolan’ that worked on the issues of students.
Parents
Sadavarte’s father is Nivritti Sadavarte, who was an employee in the police department. He worked as a constable and later as a head constable in various police stations in Nanded district. He retired from service in 2010. He was also active in politics and was elected to the Nanded Municipal Corporation by the Bahujan Mahasangh of the Republican Party of India (RPI) in 2007. He was known for his honesty and dedication to his work and his community.
Sadavarte’s mother is not known by name, but she is a homemaker who raised her children with love and care. She supported her husband’s career and social work and also encouraged her children to pursue their education and interests. She is a devout Hindu who follows the rituals and festivals of her faith.
Siblings
Sadavarte has two siblings, a brother, and a sister. His brother is Prashant Sadavarte, who is also a lawyer and practices in Nanded district court. He specializes in civil and criminal cases and has also taken up some public interest litigations. He is married and has two children, a son and a daughter.
His sister is Priya Sadavarte, who is a teacher and works in a government school in Nanded. She teaches English and social studies to the students of Classes 6 to 10. She is also married and has a son. She is interested in literature and poetry and writes for some local magazines.
Career as a Lawyer and Activist
Gunaratna Sadavarte started his career as a lawyer in 1998 and soon established himself as a competent and fearless advocate. He took up various cases related to human rights, civil liberties, environmental protection, consumer rights, and public interest litigation. He also represented many underprivileged and marginalized sections of society, such as farmers, tribals, Dalits, and minorities.
He gained national fame when he filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the reservation given to the Maratha community by the Maharashtra government under the category of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). He contended that the quota was against the basic structure of the Constitution and violated the 50% ceiling on reservations imposed by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case. He also argued that the Maratha community was not socially or educationally backward and that there was no empirical data to justify the reservation.
On May 5, 2023, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court unanimously struck down the Maratha quota as unconstitutional and held that there was no exceptional circumstance to breach the 50% limit on reservations. The bench also observed that the Maratha community was already adequately represented in public services and educational institutions. The verdict was hailed as a landmark judgment that upheld the principle of equality and merit.
Sadavarte has also been vocal about other issues such as corruption, communalism, casteism, and nepotism. He has criticized many political leaders and parties for their policies and actions. He has also faced threats and attacks for his views and work. In March 2021, his car was vandalized by some unidentified miscreants outside his residence in Mumbai. He alleged that it was done by some supporters of the Maratha quota.
Notable Cases
Some of the notable cases that he has been involved in are:
- The case of child abuse by anganwadi workers
- The case of implementing senior citizen law
- The case of preventing doctors from going on strike
- The case of not appointing 154 policemen as constables after training
- The case of making 4,000 nurses permanent through MAT
- The case of demanding inquiry into Rohith Vemula’s suicide in Hyderabad High Court
- The case of ST workers’ union in Bombay High Court
However, the most prominent case that he has been associated with is the Maratha reservation case. In 2018, the Maharashtra government had given reservation to the Maratha community under the category of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC).
However, Sadavarte challenged this decision in the Supreme Court, arguing that it was unconstitutional and violated the 50% cap on reservation. He represented Jayshree Patil, who was the main petitioner against the Maratha quota.
Controversies
- Gunaratna Sadavarte is a lawyer and activist who challenged the reservation given to the Maratha community by the Maharashtra government in the Supreme Court and got it struck down as unconstitutional in May 2021.
- Manoj Jarange Patil is a Maratha reservation activist who has been leading a hunger strike and protests across the state demanding the restoration of the quota for the Maratha community.
- On October 26, 2023, some unidentified miscreants vandalized two cars belonging to Sadavarte outside his residence in Mumbai. Sadavarte alleged that it was done by some supporters of the Maratha quota and blamed Jarange Patil for instigating violence against him.
- Jarange Patil denied any involvement in the incident and said that he did not support any form of violence or vandalism. He said that his agitation was peaceful and that he was fighting for the rights of the Maratha community in a democratic manner.
- The police arrested three suspects who were identified as Maratha reservation activists from Jalna district. They were later released on bail by a court. The police are looking for the fourth suspect who recorded and posted the video of the incident on social media.
- Sadavarte wrote a letter to the home secretary of Maharashtra and demanded the arrest of Jarange Patil for allegedly inciting violence and disturbing public order. He also accused him of spreading false propaganda and misinformation about the Maratha quota issue.
- Jarange Patil reacted to Sadavarte’s letter and said that he was not afraid of any legal action. He said that he had not done anything wrong and that he was ready to face any inquiry. He also challenged Sadavarte to debate with him on the merits of the Maratha reservation case.
Marriage, Wife & Children
Gunaratna Sadavarte is married to Jayshree Patil, who is also a lawyer and activist. She has been his partner in many legal battles and social causes. She is also known for filing a complaint against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh for his alleged involvement in corruption and extortion. The couple has a daughter named Zane, who is 12 years old and studies in Class 7.
Zane is also a prodigy who has won a National Bravery Award for saving ten people from a fire accident in 2018. She has also written a letter to the Chief Justice of India seeking guidelines on the participation of children in protests.
Sadavarte follows Hinduism but does not believe in caste or religion-based discrimination. He is an avid reader and has read the complete works of Shakespeare. He is also fond of music and poetry.
Achievements and Recognition
Sadavarte has been recognized for his achievements and contributions by various organizations and institutions. Some of them are:
- He received the ‘Lawyer of the Year’ award from India Legal magazine in 2021.
- He was conferred with the ‘Champions of Change’ award by the Interactive Forum on Indian Economy (IFIE) in 2020.
- He was honored with the ‘Pride of India’ award by the Bharat Nirman Foundation in 2019.
- He was felicitated with the ‘Social Justice Warrior’ award by the Social Justice Forum India (SJFI) in 2018.
- He was awarded the ‘Best Public Interest Litigation Lawyer’ award by Legal Era magazine in 2017.
Gunaratna Sadavarte Wiki, Bio
| Full Name | Gunaratna Sadavarte |
| Date of Birth | Between 1974-1976 |
| Age | 47-49 years (As of 2023) |
| Birth Place | Nanded District, India |
| Profession | Lawyer, Activist |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste | General |
| Father | Nivritti Sadavarte |
| Mother | Not Known |
| Wife | Jayshree Patil |
| Daughter | Zane Sadavarte |
| Education | Law Degree |
| Political Party | None |
| Net Worth | Between INR 60 Lakh-2 cr. (approx) |
| gunaratnasadavarte | |
| Wikipedia | GunaratnaSadavarte |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Trivia
- He is the lawyer who challenged the Maratha quota in the Supreme Court and got it struck down as unconstitutional.
- He is also a social worker who has taken up various causes related to human rights, civil liberties, environmental protection, consumer rights, and public interest litigation.
- Sadavarte is married to Jayshree Patil, who is also a lawyer and activist. They have a daughter named Zane, who is a prodigy and a National Bravery Award winner.
- He has faced threats and attacks for his views and work. His car was vandalized by some miscreants in March 2021.
- Gunaratna Sadavarte has received many awards and recognition for his achievements and contributions, such as ‘Lawyer of the Year’, ‘Champions of Change’, ‘Pride of India’, ‘Social Justice Warrior’, and ‘Best Public Interest Litigation Lawyer’.
