Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has reportedly hailed the Bombay High Court’s decision to uphold the validity of reservation granted to the Maratha community in government jobs and education in the state.

Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, which is having its monsoon session, Fadnavis said it is a matter of happiness that the HC has upheld his government’s decision to grant quota to the community.

He informed the Lower House about the HC ruling and thanked political parties and Maratha organisations for their support to the government over the issue.

Making a statement, Fadnavis said the quota law passed by the state legislature was challenged in the HC, where it was heard for a long time.

He said the court subsequently upheld the legislative competence of the legislature to formulate the Maratha quota law.

The HC has also endorsed the quantifiable data of the State Backward Class Commission (SBCC) based on which the Maratha community was declared socially and educationally backward and given quota in jobs and education, the CM said.

The court has upheld the extraordinary and exceptional circumstances mentioned in the SBCC report to provide quota to Marathas due to which the total reservation quantum in the state has crossed the 50 per cent level, he said.

The chief minister said as per the quantifiable data, the court has said 12 per cent reservations should be given to Marathas for education and 13 per cent in jobs.

Finance Minister and BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar also hailed the HC ruling.

On the HC’s suggestion that the quantum of quota be reduced from 16 per cent to 12 or 13 per cent, Mungantiwar said the government will study the order and decide steps to ensure the existing level of reservation for Marathas in jobs and education is maintained.

“We are very happy that validity of the reservation stood test of the court. The government had put forth its side on the issue after studying everything.

“It is the position of the government that the reservation should be 16 per cent. So, the government will study the order and take next course of action accordingly,” he told reporters on the premises of Vidhan Bhavan.

The government will take all necessary steps to ensure 16 per cent quota for the community, the BJP minister said, when asked about whether the government will fight the case in Supreme Court in case the HC’s order is challenged there.