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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court on Friday refused the urgent listing of the Public Interest Litigation filed by Hemant Patil seeking a ban on the rally, hunger strike, and protest in respect to the Maratha Reservation organized by various Maratha Community Organizations.

The PIL was mentioned before the division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor.

Patil’s advocate, RN Kachhwe submitted that around 1 crore people were about to gather at the Azad Maidan in Mumbai and sought a direction to be issued not to allow the gathering.

The division bench responded and said that it is the authorities who are required to give permissions for such gatherings and not the court.

“Is the permission granted? Don't wrap the court into all this. What can be done in such matters? This is not a PIL,” the bench said.

The division bench also stated that the high court is not the one to maintain the law and order situation and asked the petitioner to approach the necessary authorities.

“If we start entertaining matters on apprehension that 1-2 crore are going to assemble in Bombay…..we have more important work. Go to authorities. We are not sitting here to maintain law and order,” the Chief Justice said.

The people of the Maratha Community have been protesting in the State of Maharashtra seeking Maratha Reservations in government jobs.  

The PIL filed by Patil seeks the registration of an FIR against the protestors who have been protesting under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil.

Jarange Patil, along with the Maratha Community, has been protesting seeking reservation in different districts of Maharashtra, including Solapur, Osmanabad, Beed, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Dharashiv.

The plea also seeks to restrain Jarange Patil from organizing press conferences, tours, and visits to various places in the State of Maharashtra on the issue of Maratha Reservation.

Case title: Hemant Patil vs State of Maharashtra