Maratha Reservation Row: Bombay HC To Hear Plea Seeking Alternative Venue For Agitation, Kharghar Suggested Over Azad Maidan

On September 16, 2026, the Bombay High Court was set to hear a legal plea demanding the relocation of an anticipated Maratha protest from the traditional location of Azad Maidan to an alternative site, Kharghar in Navi Mumbai. The petition was lodged by the Amy Foundation, which clarified that it did not oppose the Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange's agitation or the request for Kunbi certificates.

Instead, the Foundation sought a ban on the protest at Azad Maidan due to concerns over potential traffic disruptions and public inconvenience during the Ganeshotsav festival. The Foundation argued that the protest venue may not be capable of accommodating a large number of Maratha community members from across Maharashtra and that the proposed site in Kharghar would be better suited.

The plea cited that previous applications for permission to hold the protest had been rejected by authorities, and despite this, protesters had already begun assembling in Mumbai. The Foundation also alleged threats related to the closure of the airport and other parts of the city. The court reminded that while peaceful protest rights must be upheld, public spaces and roads cannot be occupied indefinitely and that such demonstrations must be conducted after obtaining necessary permissions from the appropriate authorities.