Bombay High Court Refuses Urgent Hearing Of Dhangar Quota Protest Plea, Recalls Maratha Protestors Who 'Overstayed, Littered Mumbai'

The Bombay High Court on Monday criticised the Maratha Community protestors who had brought the city of Mumbai to a standstill in September 2025, for 'littering' the roads of the city and overstaying on the streets while demanding reservation for the community. A division bench of Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Abhay Mantri emphasised on how the protestors were permitted to stage protest in city's Azad Maidan, a designated place for all types of protests and public meetings, for a single day and yet they overstayed, littered around the city, left it dirty despite a clear direction from the High Court to 'first clean the roads before moving back to their villages.'"We remember what the protestors of Maratha Community did... They left all the garbage and dirts on the streets... They were specifically ordered to first clean the streets and then go back but they left everything like this only... the corporation then had to clear all the litter," Justice Ghuge orally remarked.The judge made the observations on a mention by an advocate, who sought urgent hearing of his petition seeking reservation for the Dhangar Community. The counsel submitted that his client - Deepak Borhade, a former cop, was denied permission to organise a peaceful agitation on January 21, 2026, demanding protection of right to dignity of the Dhangar Community and provide them reservation. However, Justice Ghuge, remarked, "No no.. there is no urgency... Even they (Maratha protestors) said it will be a one day protest but then they overstayed... Also, one cannot say that s/he wants to protest on a specific day... you can agitate on any day of the 365 days... There is no urgency in petitions seeking protest.. it can wait."In Borhade's plea filed through advocates Asim Sarode, Navnath Devkate and Kishor Verak, it is pointed out that their application seeking permission to hold a protest at Azad Maidan, filed on November 28, 2025 and further reminder on January 14, 2026, was rejected by the Mumbai Police by an order passed on January 15, 2026.Notably, the Dhangar community has been demanding their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. It Is presently given reservation under the Vimukta Jati or the Nomadic Tribes (VJ NT). The community has contended that it is the 'Dhangad' community recognised as an ST category. However, due to historical clerical errors, seeking full ST reservation benefits, citing their socio-economic backwardness and large population, the community demands issuance of a Government Resolution to correct the records and include it under the ST category.

Bombay High Court Refuses Urgent Hearing Of Dhangar Quota Protest Plea, Recalls Maratha Protestors Who 'Overstayed, Littered Mumbai'

Narsi Benwal

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