Maratha Quota Stir: Bombay High Court Orders Manoj Jarange & Protesters To Vacate Streets By September 2

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday pulled up Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil and his supporters for disrupting life in Mumbai, observing that they had prima facie violated every condition of the permission granted to them by the police for holding a peaceful protest Azad Maidan.

Court Notes Widespread Disruption Across Mumbai

A special bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad gave the protestors time until Tuesday noon to vacate the streets and restore normalcy in the city.

The bench convened a special hearing after petitions flagged concerns that the ongoing agitation — demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions for the Maratha community — had spiralled out of control and brought Mumbai to a grinding halt.

Protest Spills Beyond Azad Maidan

“The situation is grim and the city of Mumbai has been practically brought to a standstill,” the bench observed, noting that Jarange Patil and his followers had failed to confine themselves to Azad Maidan, the designated site for the protest. Instead, large groups had gathered at sensitive spots including CSMT and Churchgate stations, the Marine Drive promenade, and even around the high court building.

HC Notes Chaos Around Court Premises

“The high court building is surrounded. The entry gates for the judges and lawyers are blocked. The cars of judges were prevented from coming to court today. The entire city has been blocked,” the bench remarked, stressing that the protest could no longer be described as “peaceful”.

Undertakings ‘Mere Lip Service’

The judges said Jarange Patil’s undertaking to the police — to abide by the rules for public gatherings — was “mere lip service.” The court also noted that protesters were “bathing, cooking and defecating on the streets,” causing grave inconvenience to citizens.

Organisers Ordered To Vacate Streets

The bench directed Jarange Patil and organisers Virendra Pawar and their association (respondents 5, 6 and 7) to “clean the streets and vacate the occupation of protestors until tomorrow forenoon.”

“We are giving Jarange Patil and his supporters an opportunity to rectify the situation immediately and ensure that the streets are vacated and cleaned up by Tuesday noon,” HC said.

State Told To Act Firmly

The court said since Jarange Patil and his supporters have prima facie violated the conditions and since they do not have valid permission to continue the protest, it expects the state government to follow the due procedure laid down in law by initiating appropriate steps as per its August 26 order and the new 2025 Rules regulating public gatherings.

The court emphasised that life in Mumbai must not be brought to a halt, during Ganapati festival or otherwise, and underlined the paramount need to restore normalcy for citizens.

State Advocate General Birendra Saraf informed the court that permission for a protest at Azad Maidan had been granted only for August 29, between 9 am and 6 pm, with a cap of 5,000 participants. However, over 25,000 protestors entered the city, far exceeding the limit.

Threats Issued, Rules Ignored

“No permission was given for Saturday and Sunday. All undertakings have been thrown to the wind. It is sheer defiance of authority,” Saraf said. He pointed out that the rules clearly prohibited hunger strikes, self-immolation, burning of effigies, cooking of food, or overnight occupation of public spaces.

Saraf added that the protest had also involved threats to the police. “If you do anything, whole Maharashtra and Mumbai will cease to exist,” he quoted protestors as saying. Despite this, he stressed that the state had to manage a delicate balance, given the Ganesh festival during which several citizens are out to celebrate during visarjan.

“Exercise of brutal police force would be easy but the consequence of the same would be bad. We need to strike a balance between protestors and citizens,” he explained.

HC Critical Of Govt’s Inaction

The bench was critical of the state for not acting more decisively. “Why is the state government not getting the roads cleared? Every assurance is violated. Where is peace in this so-called peaceful protest?” the court asked.

Court Warns Against Indefinite Fast

It also noted Jarange Patil’s threat to continue a fast unto death and not leave Mumbai until his demands were met, calling it a “clear threat.” The judges directed the government to monitor Jarange Patil’s health and provide medical assistance in case of deterioration.

The court also ordered the state to prevent any further protestors from entering Mumbai. “If there are further protestors who desire to enter the city, we direct the state to take appropriate steps to prevent their entry from such entry points as may be relevant,” the bench added.

The judges expressed hope that “good counsel would prevail” upon Jarange Patil and his supporters and that they would comply with the court’s orders, the August 26 directive, and the new Rules of 2025.

Gathering Suggested At Azad Maidan

The court suggested that all the protesters, from all over the city, could be asked to gather at Azad Maidan to facilitate better management. However, Saraf said that all the protesters would not fit in Azad Maidan.

The matter has been kept for compliance on Tuesday, September 2. The court reiterated that while every citizen has a right to protest, it must be done “peacefully and within permissible limits.”

Law Must Prevail, Says HC

“It is undisputed that in a peaceful protest, the law of the land must prevail,” the bench said, warning that indefinite occupation of public places would not be tolerated.