Today, the Bombay High Court refused the urgent listing of the PIL filed by Hemant Patil. The litigation sought a prohibition on rallies, hunger strikes, and protests related to the Maratha Reservation, which were organized by different Maratha Community Organizations.

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was brought before the division bench of the High Court, presided over by Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Arif Doctor.

RN Kachhwe, the advocate representing Patil, informed the court that approximately 1 crore people were expected to assemble at Azad Maidan in Mumbai. He requested the court issue a directive preventing the gathering.

In response, the division bench asserted that the responsibility for granting permissions for such gatherings lies with the authorities and not the court.

Additionally, the division bench emphasized that the High Court is not tasked with maintaining law and order and advised the petitioner to seek redress from the relevant authorities.

“If we start entertaining matters on the 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.

Members of the Maratha community in the state of Maharashtra have been engaged in protests, advocating for reservations in government jobs.

Patil's PIL aims to secure the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the protestors who have been demonstrating under the leadership of Manoj Jarange Patil.

Jarange Patil, in conjunction with the Maratha Community, has been actively participating in protests across various districts of Maharashtra, including Solapur, Osmanabad, Beed, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Dharashiv, advocating for reservations.

The plea additionally requests an injunction to prevent Jarange Patil from arranging press conferences, tours, and visits to different locations in the State of Maharashtra concerning the matter of the Maratha Reservation.