Protesting Maratha demonstrations met with inaction from the state, criticized by Bombay High Court

In the heart of Mumbai, the ongoing Maratha reservation protests at Azad Maidan have been causing significant disruption, blocking roads and railway stations, causing major inconvenience to regular commuters.

The protests, led by Indian activist Manoj Jarange, began last week. Jarange, known for his advocacy for the Maratha community's rights, has been actively protesting for the Maratha community's rights since at least 2008. He has organised and participated in multiple protests and hunger strikes, including a significant one in August-September 2025, which lasted five days before ending following a government agreement.

However, the current protests have been met with criticism from the Bombay High Court. On Monday, the High Court expressed displeasure over the widespread disruption caused by the Maratha protestors in South Mumbai. The court questioned why Jarange was still camped at Azad Maidan despite permission only for 24 hours.

The court also rebuked the Maharashtra government for relying on Jarange's influence instead of enforcing court orders. The Chief Justice criticised the State for not removing protesters from Azad Maidan during the Maratha reservation protests.

The court's ultimatum to vacate city roads led to some Maratha protestors clearing roads and CSMT railway station after Jarange's request. After the court's warning that Jarange cannot override court orders by continuing to sit at Azad Maidan and may be forced to act to uphold the rule of law, Jarange's lawyer claimed that 90% of protestors had left and sought time until Wednesday, assuring no untoward incidents would occur.

The court also indicated that Jarange could be held responsible for instigating the crowd beyond permitted limits. The court observed that the site could have been vacated "forcefully" to comply with earlier court directions and prevent inconvenience to the public. The State's submission to the court regarding the dispersal of protestors at Azad Maidan was not impressive to the Chief Justice.

The matter was adjourned to Wednesday at 1 PM. Meanwhile, the Maratha reservation protests continue to cause disruption in Mumbai, and the court has urged the State to take swift action to restore normalcy.

In a separate development, a Naxal's body was recovered in Dantewada, but no further details about the exchange of guns were provided in the article. However, this fact is not directly related to the ongoing court case and the protests at Azad Maidan.