'We Can't Be Under Seige': High Court Pulls Up Maharashtra Govt, Manoj Jarange As Judge Forced To Walk To Court Amid Maratha Agitation

The Bombay High Court today slammed the State as well as activist Manoj Jarange for failing to control crowd during protests for Maratha Reservation, thereby forcing a sitting HC judge to walk to the Court on Monday.For context, protesters took over Mumbai streets— playing, dancing and sleeping there, forcing Justice Ravindra Ghuge to walk besides the crowd on the foot-path from the City Civil Court to reach the High Court.Taking note of this, a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar orally remarked,"We are also not satisfied with the State... We want to know what they were doing... How can your protestors compel a judge of this Court to walk on the street to reach his court and conduct proceedings ? You cannot force a HC judge to walk like this just because your protestors were dancing on the road". The bench which also comprised of Justice Aarti Sathe was hearing a PIL filed by Amy Foundation regarding the inconvenience caused to people due to the protests lead by Jarange.The matter was initially heard by a bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The judges in their order yesterday had recorded that Justice Ghuge and government pleader Poornima Kantharia had to walk through the crowd yesterday, to reach the Court.Today, the ACJ told Jarange's counsel senior advocate Satish Maneshinde, "High Court cannot be under siege Mr Counsel". The ACJ further told Advocate General Dr Birendra Saraf:"Mr AG, yesterday I returned at 2:40 from airport till my residence, I could not find a single patrolling vehicle on the streets. Where is the security of citizens? Where are your mobile vans? Stationed in restaurants?". When Maneshinde said that "not a single citizen was hurt or disturbed" the Acting Chief Justice remarked:"What are you saying Mr Counsel...There was a considerable threat in the minds of the citizens. Schools were shut...a judge was forced to walk down to the court only because some people were dancing on the street... The city was paralysed and you say this". The matter is now kept at 3pm today for Jarange and other protestors to vacate Azaad Maidan as well as for the State to show the steps it has taken.Case no. – Public Interest Litigation (L) No. 25656 of 2025Case Title – AMY Foundation v. State of Maharashtra and Ors.

'We Can't Be Under Seige': High Court Pulls Up Maharashtra Govt, Manoj Jarange As Judge Forced To Walk To Court Amid Maratha Agitation

Narsi Benwal

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