The Bombay High Court issued a stern ultimatum on Tuesday to activist Manoj Jarange and his supporters, who have been staging an unauthorized protest at Azad Maidan demanding a 10% reservation for the Maratha community under the OBC category. The court, led by Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe, demanded that the protesters vacate the site by 3 PM or face severe consequences, including exemplary costs and potential contempt proceedings.
The court expressed outrage over the chaos caused by the protesters, who have occupied Azad Maidan without permission since August 29, when Jarange began an indefinite hunger strike. The bench accused the group of violating the law, disrupting public order, and even obstructing access to the court itself. "This is a very serious situation. It cannot be that the high court was under siege and a judge had to walk to court," the bench remarked, highlighting how protesters had surrounded the court premises on Monday, causing significant disruption.
The court also criticized the state government for its apparent lapses in handling the situation, noting that the administration failed to enforce restrictions or manage the swelling crowds. "We are not satisfied with the state government either. There seems to be some lapse on their part," the bench stated, underscoring the broader failure to maintain order.
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Senior advocate Satish Maneshinde, representing Jarange, offered an apology for the misbehavior of some protesters, assuring the court that steps would be taken to prevent further disruptions. He informed the bench that Jarange had filed a fresh application seeking permission to continue the protest legally, but no order had been passed. However, the court dismissed this, stating, "They cannot occupy Azad Maidan illegally in anticipation of an order. Ask them to vacate by 3 PM, or we will take all steps as per law."
The bench further emphasized that the protest had exceeded the permitted limit of 5,000 participants, with estimates suggesting over 50,000 people had flooded Mumbai. The court questioned Jarange’s efforts to control the crowd, asking, "What steps did you take to ensure that more than 5,000 persons do not come? Did you ask them to leave Mumbai?" Maneshinde responded that Jarange had appealed to his supporters through the media to maintain order and clear the streets, particularly after the court’s directive on Monday.
On Monday, the high court had already labeled the protest as "not peaceful," noting that Jarange and his supporters had violated multiple conditions set by authorities when permission was initially granted. The court had given them until noon on Tuesday to clear the streets and restore normalcy, but the continued occupation prompted Tuesday’s stricter directive.
The Mumbai police also issued a formal notice to Jarange and his team, reinforcing the court’s order to vacate Azad Maidan immediately. The court, however, remained unmoved, warning that failure to comply by 3 PM would lead to legal repercussions. "We want complete normalcy by 3 PM, or else we will go out on the streets ourselves," the bench declared.
The situation remains tense as the deadline approaches, with the city on edge and authorities under pressure to act. The court has scheduled a follow-up hearing at 3 PM to assess compliance, signaling that it will not tolerate further violations. As Mumbai grapples with the fallout of this escalating protest, all eyes are on Jarange and whether he will heed the court’s warning or face the consequences of defiance.
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