The Bombay High Court said on Monday that the entire Mumbai has come to a standstill due to the Maratha reservation movement. The court commented that this movement is not peaceful and all conditions have been violated. At the same time, the leader of the Maratha Reservation Movement Manoj Jarange-Patil and his supporters directed that the roads should be evacuated by 2 September.
According to PTI, the High Court said, “We are giving a chance to Jaranga and their supporters to immediately improve the situation and ensure cleanliness by emptying the roads by Tuesday afternoon.” The court described the situation as “serious”.
In the special hearing, a bench of Justice Ravindra Ghoga and Gautam Ankhad said that the protesters have violated the conditions fixed. He was supposed to stay in Azad Maidan but he occupied many important roads in South Mumbai.
The bench said, “See, how peaceful it is. The High Court’s building is surrounded. The entrances of the judges and lawyers have been closed. The vehicles of the High Court judges were stopped and they were prevented from coming to court. The entire city is jammed.”
The High Court also said that Jarange-Patil and their supporters are not allowed to continue the movement further. In such a situation, the state government should take appropriate steps according to the law.
The court asked the Maharashtra government why the roads have not been evacuated yet. The bench said that Jarang-Patil is a clear threat to ‘sitting on hunger strike’.
The bench said, “They have said that until their demands are met, they will not leave Mumbai and will remain on fast. This is a clear threat. Why is the state government not vacating the roads?”
