The Bombay High Court has directed a medical examination for Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil amid concerns about his deteriorating health during a hunger strike. This decision underscores the delicate balance between the right to protest and the state’s responsibility to ensure citizens’ well-being in the ongoing Maratha reservation issue.
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Mumbai : On Thursday, the Bombay High Court took decisive action in the case of Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, who has been on a hunger strike. The court, represented by Justices Ajay Gadkari and Shyam Chandak, directed a medical examination for Patil to assess his health condition and determine an appropriate course of treatment. This decision came after the Maharashtra government expressed genuine concern over the deteriorating health of the activist.
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The January assurance from the state government had led Jarange to call off his initial protest. However, on February 10, he resumed his hunger strike, emphasizing the need for legislation akin to the draft notification issued by the state social justice department. The move prompted the government’s legal representative, Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf, to highlight the gravity of Patil’s health condition, pointing out that this marks the tenth round of the hunger strike.
“The concern of the state government and every stakeholder is that the condition should not deteriorate,”
– noted the bench.
Ramesh Dube Patil, the advocate representing Jarange Patil, informed the court that the activist has taken two bottles of saline, with his health being closely monitored by his team of doctors. However, the bench raised a crucial question, questioning the activist’s refusal to undergo a medical examination and receive treatment from state government doctors.
“Why cannot you (Jarange Patil) take the treatment? You are a citizen of India, so what is the problem if the state treats you medically? The State is bound to take care,”
– the bench emphasized, underlining the state’s responsibility to ensure the well-being of its citizens.
“The State is understanding your right to peaceful agitation… so your response should be that you will take the medical treatment,”
-the bench added, urging cooperation from the activist.
In response to Dube Patil’s statement that Jarange Patil was unable to communicate via phone calls and was relying on instructions from well-wishers and supporters, Advocate General Saraf remarked, “That itself shows that he requires care.”
Subsequently, the court issued a directive for Jarange Patil‘s immediate medical examination and the necessary treatment recommended by the doctors. A final decision on his health will be made in consultation with his medical advisor, Dr. Vinod Chavare.
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Gunaratan Sadavarte filed a petition against the ongoing protests in the state, especially amidst Manoj Jarange Patil’s hunger strike. The petition supports reservations for the Maratha community, sparking considerable public interest and legal discussions.
