Bombay HC seeks Jarange-Patil’s response on damages to public property during Maratha quota stir

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and the organisers of the Maratha quota protests in Mumbai to file affidavits in response to allegations of large-scale damage to public property during the five-day agitation, Live Law reported.

Jarange-Patil had launched a hunger strike on August 29 to reiterate his demand for reservations in government jobs and education for the Maratha community under the Other Backward Classes category.

On Tuesday, the Maharashtra government issued a resolution granting Kunbi status to Marathas of Marathwada, following which Jarange-Patil ended his fast.

The Kunbis form a sub-caste within the Maratha community. They are included in the Other Backward Classes.

Jarange-Patil has demanded that Kunbi caste certificates be provided to all Marathas.

On Wednesday, a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Aarti Sathe said that Jarange-Patil and other protest organisers must respond to petitions alleging vandalism during the agitation, The Hindu reported.

The court also questioned the Maharashtra government about who would pay for the alleged damages.

Jarange-Patil’s lawyers told the court that no public property had been damaged.

In response, the bench said: “You are denying it, but there are photos of policemen injured.”

“You file an affidavit stating that you [Jarange-Patil and other organisers] were not the instigators,” The Hindu quoted the bench as saying. “You have to say you are not responsible for any...

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