Maharashtra government has decided to approach the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court stayed the decision to give 16 per cent reservation to Marathas in public service and educational institutions.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that the state government is fully supportive of Maratha quota and will appeal in SC on the HC ruling.

He assured of taking measures to ensure that the quota remains. Fadnavis was talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event in suburban Vile Parle.

He also said that if the court has pointed out any discrepancy in law, they will remove any lacunae in law during the winter session of the State Legislature in Nagpur that begins on December 8.

The chief minister stressed that it is this government's commitment that the reservation for Maratha community remains. NCP was critical of the BJP government's stand in court on the issue of Maratha reservations.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said that this government did not present the case in a proper manner in HC and the ruling highlights the failure on part of the new regime to protect the quota decision of the Congress-NCP government.

Shiv Sena has sought an explanation from the BJP government for its failure to protect the Maratha quota in court.

Senior Sena leader Diwakar Raote said that Minorities Affairs minister Eknath Khadse should tell people what discrepancies remained in convincing the court of the government's commitment to provide quota for Marathas.

Meanwhile, Khadse said BJP was supportive of the provision of reservations for Marathas and they will make all efforts in the SC to uphold the quota decision by the state government.