The court posted the petition for hearing on January 28. The petitioner had sought permission to organise a peaceful protest on January 21 for the Dhangar reservation, but the court, refusing an urgent hearing, said a protest can be held on any day
Manoj Jarange
Protesters had “ruined” the city during Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s hunger strike last year and left without clearing the mess, the Bombay High Court observed while hearing a plea seeking permission for another reservation protest at Azad Maidan, according to the Press Trust of India.
According to the news agency, a division bench made the remarks recently while considering a request for permission to hold a one-day protest by the Dhangar community seeking reservation. The petition was filed by an individual after the police denied permission to use the ground.
The high court noted that while permission is often sought for a single day, protesters frequently overstay, causing inconvenience and disruption.
The court posted the petition for hearing on January 28. The petitioner had sought permission to organise a peaceful protest on January 21 for the Dhangar reservation, but the court, refusing an urgent hearing, said a protest can be held on any day.
Mumbaikars will remember with dread, the city, SoBo in particular, literally being held to ransom as Jarange and his protesters left a royal mess for Mumbai. The city was paralysed for those few days as movement was difficult if not impossible, streets were littered with leftover food and garbage. Banana peels lined the street, especially near the Bombay Gymkhana and behind Azad Maidan, posing a threat to pedestrians, who had to negotiate that space for any reason.
The keyword for protests is peaceful. Keep it non-destructive as that can be impactful, too. When chaos reigns, the real cause is obfuscated as there is a focus on all the disruption to routine life, rather than why this protest is being held. The court has rightly highlighted these concerns and they must be addressed after which a green light may be given.
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