Mumbai police inform Bombay High Court of nod for CPI(M) Gaza disaster protest

Mumbai police on August 12, 2025, knowledgeable the Bombay High Court that it has agreed to permit the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], to carry a peaceable protest at Azad Maidan in Mumbai, condemning the continuing humanitarian disaster in Gaza. “The protest will probably be held on August 20, between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., for the protesters to specific their ideas on the genocide purportedly occurring in Gaza,” the police advised the Division Bench of justices, Ravindra Ghuge and Gautam Ankhad.  

Additional Public Prosecutor S.C. Gavand advised the courtroom that the protest should adjust to the authorized necessities and be confined to the designated demonstration space. Representing the petitioners, Senior Advocate Mihir Desai assured the Bench that the organisers will adhere to the draft laws below the Maharashtra Police Act, which require organisers to make sure the occasion stays orderly and confined to designated protest areas and stated, “I hope neither of us comes again on the twenty first.” 

On Monday (August 11, 2025), Mr. Desai had knowledgeable the courtroom that the Pune police gave permission final week to carry an identical protest. To this, the courtroom requested the APP to examine if the protest will be allowed with some circumstances in place to make sure regulation and order within the metropolis. on Tuesday, after listening to that the permission is granted, the courtroom disposed of the petition.  

The CPI(M) on X, shared, “The permission by #MumbaiPolice to CPI(M) and acceptance of #BombayHighCourt to carry peaceable protest in opposition to ongoing genocide in #Gaza by Israel vindicated the correctness of CPI(M) stand and nullifies Court’s personal earlier unwell remarks and earlier anti-democratic refusal of Police.”  

On July 25, 2025, the identical Bench dismissed the CPI(M)’s petition and sharply criticized the celebration for concentrating on worldwide occasions over home considerations. “Our nation has sufficient points. Look at your personal nation. Be patriots. This will not be patriotism,” the Bench famous, urging the political celebration to prioritize citizen-centric points like rubbish disposal, air pollution, drainage, and flooding as a substitute of distant geopolitical conflicts.  

Following the courtroom’s statement, the CPI(M) launched a press observe the identical night, “The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the observations of the Bombay High Court Bench whereas rejecting an software by the celebration to problem the Mumbai Police’s refusal to permit a protest motion in opposition to the continuing Israeli genocide in Gaza. Ironically, the Bench seems to be unaware of both the provisions of the Constitution which enshrines the rights of a political celebration, or the historical past of our nation and our folks’s solidarity with the Palestinians and their reputable proper to homeland. The observations smack of distinct political bias consistent with the Central authorities.” 

CPI(M) had submitted a number of functions in June to carry a protest at Azad Maidan however all of them have been rejected by police on grounds that the problem was worldwide and will complicate regulation and order conditions.