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The Bombay HC was hearing a batch of petitions related to the Maratha quota agitation that has paralysed India’s financial capital since August 29
The court instructed the police to clear protest sites in south Mumbai, except Azad Maidan, and ensure smooth traffic movement. (PTI)
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday pulled up Manoj Jarange-Patil for violating the law by continuing his ‘fast unto death’ at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan, prompting an apology from the Maratha quota activist.
“It is because of some people that inconvenience is being caused to Mumbaikars, I apologise for the same,” Jaranage said through his lawyer Satish Maneshinde as the high court directed protesters to vacate the ground immediately.
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The Bombay HC was hearing a batch of petitions related to the Maratha quota agitation that has paralysed India’s financial capital since August 29. The court instructed the police to clear protest sites in south Mumbai, except Azad Maidan, and ensure smooth traffic movement.
As Maneshinde pointed out to the court the “poor facilities” for drinking water and parking made by the state despite prior intimation of the protest, an irate bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe sought to know the steps Jarange had taken to ensure not more than 5,000 participants attend the rally. The senior advocate responded by saying the same would be ensured henceforth but the court did not seem satisfied. “No, we want to know now, what steps you took after you found that more than 1 lakh people have reached Mumbai?” the bench asked.
The high court then sought to know if the protesters had left and was informed that Jarange is still at the protest site and has applied for extension of permission to continue his fast.
“What is this? Just in anticipation that some order will be passed on your application, you cannot continue to sit there… We make it clear, you will have to leave immediately. This is illegal. After 3pm today, we will ensure no one sits there… If need be, we will send someone or we will ourselves visit the roads and the site to check everyone has left,” the court said.
The bench also came down heavily on the Maharashtra government, blaming it for a lapse on its part in handling the protest. Noting that law and order cannot be compromised, the bench asked authorities to take urgent steps to restore normalcy at the earliest.
Police had said Jarange’s remarks in the media, blocking of roads, and incidents of violence during the the protest had been taken note of. In the past four days, traffic disruptions were reported around Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and the BMC headquarters, with protesters even playing kabaddi and cricket on the streets. In one incident, passengers of a BEST bus were assaulted while a handful of protesters attempted to enter the Bombay Stock Exchange building but were denied permission.
About the Author
Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S…Read More
Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University’s Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S… Read More
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