Bombay High Court said Mumbai has been “practically brought to a standstill” by Manoj Jarange’s Maratha quota agitation. The court warned protesters to vacate streets by Tuesday noon or face action.
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday came down strongly on the ongoing Maratha quota protest led by activist Manoj Jarange, observing that the entire city of Mumbai has been brought to a halt.
The court said the agitation has not been peaceful and has violated all the conditions laid down by the authorities when permission was given for a protest at Azad Maidan.
Jarange, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai since Friday, has now also stopped drinking water, his supporters claimed.
He is demanding a 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.
A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad held a special hearing and noted that the protestors were not staying at Azad Maidan, the designated site for the agitation, but had instead blocked several vital areas in south Mumbai.
The court remarked,
“The situation is grim and the city of Mumbai has been practically brought to a standstill.”
The judges observed that protesters had gathered in important places like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Churchgate railway station, Marine Drive promenade, and even surrounded the Bombay High Court building.
The bench said the protest was clearly not peaceful, and that Jarange and his followers had violated every condition attached to the permission.
The judges said,
“We are giving Jarange and his supporters an opportunity to rectify the situation immediately and ensure the streets are vacated and cleaned up by Tuesday noon.”
Since Jarange and his supporters did not have valid permission to continue, the court said it expected the state government to take action.
It also directed the state to make sure no more protestors, as Jarange claimed, enter Mumbai. The bench added that if Jarange’s health worsens, the government must provide him medical care.
Advocate General Birendra Saraf told the court that permission for the protest at Azad Maidan was only till August 29. He said Jarange had violated every single condition and undertaking.
The bench strongly criticised Jarange’s promises, remarking,
“His undertaking to the police that he would abide by all conditions laid down in the rules for public gathering, agitation and protest was merely a lip service.”
The court expressed anger at the impact on the judiciary itself.
It said,
“We can see how peaceful the protest is. The high court building is surrounded. The entry gates for the judges and lawyers are blocked. The cars of high court judges were blocked today and prevented from coming to court today. The entire city has been blocked.”
The bench then asked,
“If Jarange’s statement that lakhs of more such protesters will come in, then how does the state government plan to deal with the situation?”
The judges added,
“He has said he will go on a fast till death and will not leave Mumbai till his demands are met. He (Jarange) is giving a clear threat. Why is the state government not getting the roads cleared? As per the assurance given by Jarange, life in Mumbai will not come to standstill. Every assurance is violated.”
The court also questioned,
“Why are the protesters not sitting only at Azad Maidan and loitering everywhere else?”
Expressing deep concern, the judges stressed,
“We want normalcy. Protestors are bathing and cooking and defecating on the streets.”
While worried about Jarange’s health, the court reiterated that while every citizen has the right to protest, it must be peaceful and within the law. It reminded all that its earlier order dated August 26 required protests to strictly follow rules.
The bench also questioned the state’s response. Advocate General Saraf replied that the government was trying to maintain balance because of the Ganesh festival, saying,
“Exercise of brutal police force would be easy but the consequence of the same would be bad. We need to manage a delicate balance between the protesters and citizens on the road.”
The judges noted that the High Court had been on holiday since August 27 for the Ganesh festival and resumed on Monday, when it received several petitions complaining that the protest had gone out of control.
Visuals from the city showed heavy traffic jams, especially around CSMT, which is close to Azad Maidan. Reports said thousands of protestors had been brought in by buses. One video circulating online showed men in Jarange’s colours allegedly taking items from a shop without paying.
There were also allegations that some claiming to be part of the protest misbehaved with women reporters and left behind heaps of garbage.
Jarange had earlier warned the state government about consequences if Maratha reservations were not granted.
He said,
“If the government remains adamant, it will be dangerous… People’s resentment against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is growing because of his rigid stance. If we are not given a reservation, the government will face consequences.”
He also added,
“I can overturn the government if the quota is not given. I will not listen to anyone…”
The matter will now be heard again on Tuesday, with the High Court expecting the government to restore normalcy and Jarange’s supporters to vacate the streets.
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