Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has directed Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange and his supporters to vacate the streets of Mumbai by noon on Tuesday, citing violations of the terms set for their protest and disruptions to city life.
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The court noted that Jarange, along with organiser Virendra Pawar and their association, breached the conditions of the protest permission granted by Mumbai police. As their authorization to demonstrate at Azad Maidan is no longer valid, a special bench comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad ordered the state government to take appropriate legal action. The judges stated, “Respondents 5, 6, and 7 have prima facie violated the conditions of the permission granted to them, and since they no longer hold valid permission, we expect the state to follow due process as outlined in the August 26 order and Rules 2025.”
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Emphasizing the need to restore normalcy in Mumbai, especially ahead of the Ganpati festival, the court stressed that the city must not come to a standstill. “To ensure the daily lives of Mumbai’s residents return to normal, we direct respondents 5, 6, and 7 to clear the streets and end the protestors’ occupation by tomorrow forenoon,” the bench instructed.
On August 26, while addressing a petition from the Foundation, the High Court had prohibited Jarange from holding protests without prior approval from the relevant authority, noting that public spaces cannot be occupied indefinitely. Although the police permitted a one-day protest on August 29 at Azad Maidan from 9 am to 6 pm with a limit of 5,000 participants, over 25,000 protesters entered the city.
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The court further instructed the state to prevent additional protesters from entering Mumbai, directing authorities to block them at entry points. “If more protesters attempt to enter, the state must take appropriate measures to stop them at relevant entry points and ensure no further influx into the city,” the judges said.
Additionally, the state has been tasked with monitoring Jarange’s health and providing immediate medical assistance if his condition worsens.
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