Jarange-Patil assures HC of peaceful protests from today for Maratha quota

A division bench of Justice Ajey S Gadkari and Justice Shyam C Chandak was hearing two pleas including one by lawyer Gunratan Sadavarte against Jarange-Patil’s protests for Kunbi (OBC) status for Marathas.

The HC on February 15 had permitted the civil surgeon of Jalna and his team of doctors to check the health of Jarange Patil, on an indefinite hunger strike, “on priority basis”. Sadavarte argued that Jarange-Patil has again given a call for further agitation and it may hamper the even tempo of life in the state.

He added that the Supreme Court in its 2020 Shaheen Bagh case judgment had observed that such kind of occupation of public ways, whether at the site in question or anywhere else for protests is not acceptable and the administration ought to take action to keep the areas clear of encroachments or obstructions.

Advocate V M Thorat for Jarange-Patil submitted that the call has been given by Maratha Andolan Samiti, of which his client is a member and not by any individual in his/her personal capacity. Thorat, on instructions, further submitted that the said agitation will be a peaceful agitation in all respects.

The bench noted that Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution gives a right to citizens to assemble peacefully and without arms and Article 19(1)(d) of the Constitution provides, to move freely throughout the territory of India. However, it noted the said fundamental rights are with reasonable restriction.

“It is for the state to impose reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right/rights conferred by the said clauses in the interest of the general public or for the protection of the interest of it,” the bench noted in its order. After Thorat sought time to take further instructions in the matter from his client, the HC posted the hearing to February 26.

Even as Maharashtra Assembly on February 20 unanimously passed a Bill to set aside 10% reservation for the Marathas under socially and educationally backward categories in jobs and education, Jarange-Patil has demanded that Marathas should be included in OBC category by granting them through Kunbi certificates