The Bombay High Court has strongly criticized the Maharashtra government for failing to clear protestors from Azad Maidan despite its earlier orders. Hearing a PIL on inconvenience caused by the Maratha reservation agitation, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Sree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe said the State could have “forcefully” vacated the protest site and expressed deep displeasure at its “very, very, very unhappy” conduct.''

Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf told the Court that police had made announcements, put up posters, and even served notices to protest leader Manoj Jarange but acknowledged that only Jarange’s appeal could ensure the crowd’s dispersal. The bench retorted that the State was wrongly relying on his popularity instead of enforcing judicial directions.

"So you are relying on his popularity? Why can't you implement our orders? It is your duty... Why didn't you come to court pointing out that participants have increased from 5,000 to more than a lakh... We will have to pass orders against you too... You could have taken all steps... You could have got it vacated forcefully... This is very serious issue.. we are very very very unhappy with your conduct... Can we permit violation and breach of our orders? And that too for days altogether?"

Counsel for Jarange said 90% of protestors had left and sought time until Wednesday, which the Court reluctantly granted while warning that the rule of law must be respected.

Meanwhile, in a latest development, the State has accepted the demands of Manoj Jarange, who has consequently called off the hunger strike. A Government Resolution (GR) will be issued executing the demands.

Case Title – AMY Foundation v. State of Maharashtra and Ors., Public Interest Litigation (L) No. 25656 of 2025