The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to pass any prohibitory order against Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange’s proposed protest march to Mumbai, observing that the State government is capable of handling any law and order situation.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice M C Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said the Court could not restrict Jarange’s right to protest merely on the apprehension that last year’s situation, when his hunger strike brought parts of South Mumbai to a standstill, could be repeated.

“We are in a democratic country,” the Bench observed, adding that a person cannot be stopped from protesting merely on the basis of an apprehension.

The Court directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that Jarange, who is currently on a fresh hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district, receives medical assistance if required.

“The state government should intervene and speak with him... At this stage we cannot intervene. As and when a situation arises then we will see,” the Court said.

Advocate General Milind Sathe informed the Court that the government had not received any application from Jarange seeking permission to hold a protest in Mumbai.

The Bench was hearing a petition filed by Mumbai residents Nilesh Dahanukar and Rajesh Dalvi, seeking directions to prevent Jarange and his supporters from marching to Mumbai.

The High Court said the State machinery was capable of dealing with any potential law and order situation.

“If someone takes law and order in their hands then the state is capable of handling it. If someone acts contrary to the provisions of law, the state is capable enough to handle it,” the Bench observed.

The Court also said that if a situation similar to last year arose, it would be capable of dealing with it at that stage.

The High Court issued notices to the Maharashtra government and Jarange, seeking their responses to the petition.

Jarange, who has been demanding reservation for the Maratha community in education and government jobs, had said on Thursday that his march to Mumbai was certain. He is expected to announce the date of the proposed march after his supporters gather at the protest site on September 12.