No Maharashtra Bandh Today, Rules Bombay HC

Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Friday barred political parties and individuals from organizing a Maharashtra bandh on Saturday (today), August 24.

Bombay High Court on Friday restrained political parties or even individuals from calling for a Maharashtra bandh. opposition Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) alliance has called for a shut-down across state on August 24 to protest against alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Blapur in Thane district. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Uphyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said Maharashtra government shall take all necessary steps to prevent a bandh.

y would pass a detailed order shortly on two petitions filed on Friday through vocates Subhash Jha and Gunaratna Savarte challenging call for bandh, judges said. "We are restraining any political party and/or any individual from calling for a bandh. state shall take all preventive steps," HC said. State vocate General Birendra Saraf told court that call for general strike was illegal.

court asked Saraf what preventive steps government has taken, and if any preventive arrests have been me. Saraf said notices have been issued to a few persons, but no arrests have been me yet. vocates Jha and Savarte pointed out a judgment of Kerala High Court which held that no political party can call for a state-wide bandh, and an HC has ample powers to intervene in such matters.

y also cited example of Maratha reservation agitation during which a lot of public property was destroyed. court's detailed order is expected by evening. 

Opposition leers and workers will hold peaceful demonstrations and tie black bands around ir mouth on Saturday as a mark of protest against Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over a sexual abuse incident in a school, Congress said on Friday after a Bombay High Court ruling on bandh in state.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Friday said Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) leers and workers will protest against BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government with black flags and black band tied around ir mouth at different locations in state.

Earlier in day, HC restrained political parties and individuals from proceeding with Maharashtra bandh scheduled for August 24 or on any future date.

opposition MVA, which consists of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Shar Pawar-led NCP (SP), h called for a state-wide shutdown on Saturday to protest against alleged sexual assault on two kindergarten girls at a school in Blapur in Thane district.

"Respecting court's view, we will peacefully protest against government between 11 am and noon with black flags and black bands tied around our mouth," Patole said.

He said decision was taken after consulting NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

A division bench of Chief Justice D K Uphyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said Maharashtra government shall take all necessary steps to prevent a bandh.

Shar Pawar's Withdrawl For Maharashtra Bandh:

In view of a Bombay High Court ruling, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Shar Pawar on Friday appealed for withdrawal of Saturday's Maharashtra bandh called by opposition Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA).

call for bandh on Saturday (August 24) was given by opposition alliance, of which NCP (SP) is a constituent, to protest against sexual assault on two four-year-old girls in a school in Blapur in joining Thane district allegedly by an attendant of institute.

In a post on X, Pawar said bandh call was given in exercise of fundamental rights enshrined in Constitution, but judiciary also needs to be respected.

Earlier in day, HC restrained political parties or even individuals from calling for a Maharashtra bandh. A division bench of Chief Justice D K Uphyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said Maharashtra government shall take all necessary steps to prevent a bandh.

"Due to time constraint it is not possible to appeal in Supreme Court against High Court order (on bandh). Indian judiciary is a constitutional body and in respect of order given, bandh call should be withdrawn," Pawar said after HC ruling.

Rajya Sabha MP said re was tremendous anger over shameful incident which took place in Blapur school and bandh call was an attempt to draw government's attention to ire of people. 

" state government will take all steps to ensure re is no damage or destruction of human lives or property. state will do its duty but everyone has constitutional responsibilities which y should abide by," Saraf said.

High Court's Statement:

opposition Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) alliance h called for a shut-down across state on Saturday to protest against alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Blapur in Thane district. MVA comprises Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Shar Pawar-led NCP (SP).

A division bench of Chief Justice D K Uphyaya and Justice Amit Borkar said it was restraining any political party or individuals from proceeding with call for a bandh and said Maharashtra government shall take all necessary preventive steps.

"Until furr orders all concerned (political parties and/or individual) are restrained from proceeding with call for bandh on August 24 and also on any or furr date," HC said.

court passed order on two petitions filed on Friday through vocates Subhash Jha and Gunaratan Savarte challenging shutdown call and seeking court to restrain same.

bench relied on a July 2004 judgment passed by HC in which it held that enforcement of a 'bandh' or a 'hartal' would amount to unconstitutional act.

2004 judgment said in case of such bandh, political party would be liable to legal action and also to compensate for any loss of life, property or livelihood.

judgment h furr said police shall take appropriate action against person or persons involved in such 'bandh'.

Chief Justice Uphyaya on Friday said state government shall strictly enforce this 2004 judgment.

"We direct state government and all its functionaries including Chief Secretary, ditional Chief Secretary (Home), Director General of Police and all district Collectors to strictly enforce guidelines prescribed in 2004 judgment," court said.