Pune city police on Thursday denied permission for the ongoing protest by Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirants at S M Joshi bridge near Patrakar Bhavan, and directed the protesters to vacate the premises immediately citing traffic congestion, inconvenience to residents and the possibility of a law-and-order situation.
The police also cited provocative speeches, including calls to ‘shut down Pune’, and alleged that the aspirants were being encouraged to join the protest instead of attending their studies. An alleged attack on a journalist during the agitation, for which an FIR has been registered at Vishrambaug police station, was also cited. “There is a sense of insecurity created among local residents. In view of all the circumstances, we are convinced that there is a strong possibility of public peace and order being disturbed in the area, which can result in a serious law-and-order situation.
The notice, issued under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023 by deputy commissioner of police (special branch) Prashant Amrutkar, was addressed to student representatives Pramod Patil and Nitin Gite. The students had initially announced a protest from October 2, according to the notice. However, following a meeting between chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and student representatives on September 30, the representatives submitted a written letter saying that they were suspending the proposed agitation. Despite this, Patil and his associates allegedly gathered the MPSC aspirants at S M Joshi bridge on October 1 and began the agitation at around 6 pm without permission. In exercise of the powers vested in me under section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, hereby deny police permission, for the ‘sit-in/protest demonstration’ on the public road at S M Joshi bridge.
The police said that the permission granted earlier for the protest consequently became ineffective. The police said that the Vishrambaug police station had issued a written notice the same day declaring the protest to be ‘unauthorised’ and directing the protesters to vacate but the agitation continued. “You are also hereby directed to vacate the said area immediately,” deputy police commissioner Amrutkar stated in the notice. The police said that the court has directed the state to ensure that traffic movement is not affected by protest-related blockades.
In this regard, a public interest litigation (PIL) has also been filed before the high court by local residents, and the high court has passed the aforementioned order. The notice referred to the Bombay high court hearing on Wednesday during which, the court emphasised that peaceful and lawful protest is a constitutional right but added that public roads, bridges and other public spaces cannot be blocked in a manner affecting residents.
