On September 2, 2025, the Bombay High Court ordered Maratha quota leader Manoj Jarange Patil and his supporters to vacate Mumbai’s Azad Maidan by 3 pm, warning of contempt and “exemplary costs” if its directions were ignored. Following the ultimatum, the crowds at the protest site began to thin, restoring some normalcy around South Mumbai.
The order caps days of escalating disruptions linked to the latest phase of the Maratha reservation agitation, which seeks quotas in government jobs and education under the OBC category. The Court’s intervention highlights the balance Indian institutions must strike between the right to protest and public order, especially in dense urban corridors where blockades ripple into transport, commerce, and emergency services.
The order and the warning
A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe said Jarange and supporters were illegally continuing the sit-in and must leave “immediately.” The bench added that if “normalcy on the streets is not restored by 3 pm,” it would consider sterner measures, including contempt. The matter was kept for 3 pm to review compliance.
Crowd size and compliance
During the hearing, the court questioned what steps the organizers took after “more than 1 lakh” supporters entered Mumbai—far above any permitted cap—pressing counsel on crowd management and vehicle details. By afternoon, media on the ground reported that protester numbers had reduced in response to the order, easing traffic around the protest zone.
Police action and advisories
Mumbai Police served notices to vacate and moved to clear approaches around Azad Maidan, citing violations of interim conditions originally laid out for the agitation. Live updates through the day noted stepped-up deployment and instructions aimed at restoring traffic and public access near key junctions.
Jarange’s stance
Jarange—on a fast-unto-death since August 29—signalled he would not leave, while also urging supporters to maintain peace and expressing willingness for fresh talks with the state government. His counsel apologized in court for the inconvenience but maintained the state fell short on arrangements despite prior intimation. The bench asked what concrete steps organizers had taken to cap participants at permitted levels.
The broader demand
The current phase revives a long-running push to classify Marathas under OBC via pathways such as Kunbi certificates and to craft a quota regime that withstands judicial scrutiny after earlier laws were struck down. The agitation’s scale in Mumbai underscores its political salience months after waves of protests swept parts of Maharashtra in 2023-24. (Context from multiple reports on the legal impasse and administrative measures.)
What’s next?
- 3 pm compliance review: The High Court slated the matter for 3 pm to assess whether Azad Maidan has been vacated and streets cleared, leaving open the possibility of contempt proceedings or exemplary costs if directions are flouted.
- Government–agitator talks: Jarange has said he is ready for dialogue; the state is expected to brief the Court on entry-point controls and steps to prevent renewed gridlock, as directed by the bench.
- Administrative follow-through: Expect traffic normalization, revised police advisories, and potential re-routing around South Mumbai until the site is fully cleared.
Attribution & sources
- Court proceedings: Reporting and quotes from the Bombay High Court hearing, including the 3 pm deadline and observations by the bench, as covered by LiveLaw.
- On-ground status: Updates on thinning crowds and normalcy restoration from NDTV.
- Police notices & live developments: Indian Express live blog and Times of India live coverage on police action at Azad Maidan.
- Additional context: Summaries from Deccan Herald, Mint, Hindustan Times, ThePrint, and Verdictum on the Court’s directions and state obligations.
Conclusion
The Bombay High Court’s intervention has decisively shifted the day’s script: a show of numbers gave way to a test of lawful assembly. Whether the Maratha quota campaign regroups within legal bounds or pivots to closed-door negotiations will hinge on compliance at Azad Maidan, the state’s crowd-management response, and the political will to find a legally sustainable pathway on reservation—one that can survive court review without paralyzing Mumbai’s civic life.
