On Sunday, Patil had announced in Beed district that he will sit on an indefinite strike in Mumbai, towards the demand of 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community (File Photo)The Bombay High Court Tuesday said Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil cannot stage any protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai without obtaining permission from authorities.The court said that the state is open to offering an alternative place in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai to Patil for holding a peaceful protest.Patil had, earlier this week, announced that he will take a protest march to Mumbai on August 29 over Maratha reservation. The court said that Patil and the organisations planning the protest will have to seek permission under the Public Meetings, Agitations and Processions Rules, 2025.“The democracy and dissent do go hand in hand, but demonstrations expressing dissent have to be in designated places alone, which are identified for such a protest. It is a matter of common knowledge that Ganpati Festival is scheduled to commence on August 27 and shall be celebrated till September 6. The said festival is celebrated on a large scale, specially in the city of Mumbai. During the aforesaid period, police authorities shall be busy in maintenance of law and order situation in the city of Mumbai,” the division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne said.The court said that the rules have to be adhered to to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public in general.On Sunday, Patil had announced in Beed district that he will sit on an indefinite strike in Mumbai, towards the demand of 10 per cent reservation for the Maratha community. As per his plans, the agitation will begin from his native village Antarwali Sarathi on August 27.The court was hearing proceedings in a PIL filed by an NGO which sought directions that permission not be granted for the proposed protest citing the Ganpati festival.Advocate General Birendra Saraf told the court that Patil and his associates have a right to hold a peaceful protest, however, public inconvenience cannot be caused.He also said that while a formal application has not been submitted for the protest, the district collector and the police have been informed of the proposed protest.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Maratha quota