Maharashtra Government Rebuked for Inactivity During Maratha Rally
The Bombay High Court has expressed displeasure over the widespread disruption caused by Maratha protestors in South Mumbai during the ongoing Maratha reservation protests. The court has questioned the Maharashtra government's approach in handling the situation and has warned that protest leader Manoj Jarange could be held responsible for instigating the crowd beyond permitted limits.
Manoj Jarange, an Indian activist from Maharashtra, is a key figure in the Maratha-Kranti Morcha protests. He leads the fight for Maratha reservation under the Other Backward Class (OBC) category, organizing protests and hunger strikes to demand 27% reservation in government jobs and education for Marathas. Jarange founded the Shivba Sanghatana organization and has been instrumental in significant actions in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Last week, Jarange started an indefinite fast at Azad Maidan, a designated protest site. However, thousands of Maratha supporters, assembled in Mumbai, blocked roads and railway stations, causing major inconvenience to regular commuters in Mumbai. The court observed that the number of participants in the protests had increased from 5,000 to over a lakh, but the state did not inform the court about this.
The court bench, consisting of Acting Chief Justice S.V. Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe, was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the inconvenience caused by the Maratha reservation protests. After the court's ultimatum to vacate city roads, Jarange appealed to his supporters to respect the court order, and many of his supporters cleared roads and CSMT railway station.
The court indicated that Jarange's continued presence and mass influence could not justify disobedience, especially while the reservation challenge remains pending. The court may pass orders against the Maharashtra government for their conduct during the Maratha reservation protests. The court also observed that the site could have been vacated "forcefully" to comply with earlier court directions and prevent inconvenience to the public.
The court was not impressed with the state's approach and rebuked the government for not implementing court orders. The court warned that Jarange could be held responsible for instigating the crowd beyond permitted limits. The Maharashtra government relied on Jarange's popularity instead of enforcing court orders to remove protesters from Azad Maidan.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday at 1 PM. Jarange's lawyer claimed that 90% of protestors had left and sought time until Wednesday, assuring no untoward incidents would occur. The court bench will reconvene on Wednesday to pass further orders.
The court's criticism of the Maharashtra government's handling of the Maratha reservation protests comes as the state cabinet approved major infrastructure projects during the same period. The court's orders could have significant implications for the state government and the ongoing Maratha reservation protests.
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