The Bombay High Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the Maratha quota agitation to Wednesday, 1 pm, while issuing a stern warning that any breach of law during the protests would result in strict judicial orders.
The bench stressed that the “majesty of law” must be upheld and cautioned against disruptions as the agitation in Mumbai continued for the fourth day.
The Maratha quota protest, led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, has drawn nearly 40,000 supporters to Azad Maidan, severely impacting traffic and public transport in South Mumbai.
Patil, who began his indefinite hunger strike last week, escalated his agitation by declaring he would stop consuming water until the state government delivers on its assurances.
Jarange has emerged as the face of the Maratha quota movement, demanding reservation benefits for the community in education and government jobs.
The agitation stems from long-standing demands of the Maratha community for inclusion in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category to secure quotas.
Despite repeated rounds of discussions, the Maharashtra Cabinet sub-committee has failed to make progress, intensifying frustration among protesters.
With the High Court watching closely, the standoff between the government and protesters has sharpened. For now, the Maratha quota issue remains at the center of Maharashtra’s political and social churn.
