Bombay High Court directs govt to formulate policy to regulate protests

The petitioners’ lawyer, S C Naidu, argued that although the procedure for terminating morchas and dharnas at Azad Maidan is based on HC’s interim order, the government is yet to come out with a proper policy.

In 2011, the government had set up a committee — comprising additional chief secretary (home), police commissioner and the BMC commissioner — which would look into the issue and come up with a policy. However, till date, the committee has not met even once, the court was informed.

The bench has now directed three officials to meet within a month and take a decision on the policy.