A public interest litigation has asked the Bombay High Court to prevent a proposed Maratha reservation protest from being held at Mumbai’s Azad Maidan and to direct organisers to use an alternative location, principally Kharghar in Navi Mumbai. The court has scheduled the matter for hearing at 3 pm on Thursday.
The petition was filed by the Ami Foundation against permitting the protest led by Maratha leader Manoj Jarange. The petitioner told a bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Adwait Sethna that it was not opposed to the protest itself, but wanted the demonstration shifted away from Azad Maidan.
The petition cited the ongoing Ganeshotsav in Mumbai and raised concerns about restrictions on public roads and traffic if the protest is held at Azad Maidan. It argued that a large mobilisation could cause substantial inconvenience to residents and commuters, particularly because participants from across Maharashtra may join the demonstration.
According to the petitioner, protesters have a right to demonstrate but do not have a right to cause inconvenience to the general public. It also argued that public roads and public spaces cannot be occupied in this manner, particularly for an indefinite period.
The petition further said that Azad Maidan may not be adequate for the expected turnout. It asked the court to direct that the protest be held at an alternative site, with Kharghar identified as the preferred location. The request for an urgent hearing was considered by the court, which listed the matter for Thursday afternoon after briefly hearing the case.
The development comes as Jarange has already left for Mumbai for the proposed mobilisation and is expected to arrive in the city on Saturday. However, the Azad Maidan police have not yet granted permission for the protest, according to the report. The court hearing is expected to address the request concerning the location of the demonstration.
