The Bombay High Court on Friday, August 23, issued an order over the 'Maharashtra Bandh' called by opposition parties in the state on August 24 over the sexual assault of minor girls in the Badlapur area of Thane district. The incident has caused significant outrage in the area and at the local railway station, affecting railway traffic on the central line.
The High Court on Friday restrained any political party or individual from calling a bandh in the state in light of the Badlapur sexual abuse case. Former chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced the bandh for Saturday, claiming it is for the protection of women in the state. The bandh is expected to last until 2 pm.
Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has orally said it will "restrain" the political parties from proceeding with their "Maharashtra Bandh" to protest the tragic incident of sexual assault of two kindergarten girls in Thane's Badlapur.
Notably, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a political coalition of Congress, NCP (Sharad Pawar Faction), and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray Faction), has called for a "Maharashtra Bandh" on Saturday (August 24). However, an advocate has challenged the call, highlighting the impact of such a "Bandh" on citizens. The bench, also comprising of Justice Amit Borkar, said it will pronounce a detailed order on the petitions by 4:30 PM today (August 23).