The Bombay High Court has expressed disapproval over the manner in which protesters supporting Manoj Jarange’s Maratha reservation agitation “ruined” the city during last year’s hunger strike, saying they left without cleaning up after the protest despite court instructions.
A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri made these remarks on Monday while hearing a fresh petition seeking permission for a protest by the Dhangar community at Azad Maidan.
The petition was filed by Deepak Borhade, who approached the court after Mumbai Police denied permission for a one-day peaceful protest on January 21.
“We remember the protests held last year by the Maratha community. They sought permission for one day but stayed for six,” the bench remarked. “The protestors overstayed and ruined the city,” the court added.
Justice Ghuge further observed that despite specific directions from the court that protestors must clean the area before leaving, “they ran away without cleaning and the civic body had to clean up the mess.”
The bench refused Borhade’s plea for an urgent hearing and posted the matter for January 28. “A protest can be held on any day. There is no urgency in this,” the court said.
In August 2023, activist Manoj Jarange had launched an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan demanding Maratha quota. Thousands of his supporters gathered, bringing parts of south Mumbai to a near halt. Jarange eventually called off the protest on September 3 following talks with the state government and the High Court’s intervention.
