Bombay HC green signals preparations for 202nd Bhima Koregaon battle anniversary event [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court recently allowed the Pune District Collector entry into land at Haveli Tehsil, Pune to make preparations for the public to pay their respects before the Bhima Koregaon battle Victory Pillar from December 30, 2019 to January 2, 2020.

A Single Judge Bench of Justice Nitin W Sambre passed the order in a plea filed by the state government last week.

The Court has, thereby, cleared the way to celebrate the historic Bhima Koregaon battle in Haveli Tehsil, two years after violence erupted on January 1, 2018, during its 200^th celebration.

Following a plea by the government, the Court last year gave control of the Koregaon-Bhima area to the state government to ensure security during its 201st anniversary celebrations.

This year, the Pune District Collector moved an application before the High Court seeking permission to enter upon the property from December 22, 2019, in order to make necessary arrangements to conduct the 202nd Bhima Koregaon battle victory celebrations.

Also before the High Court was a plea by Captain Balasaheb Jamdar (Malvadkar), who had, in 2018, claimed ownership of the disputed land on which the Victory Pillar stands.

Advocate Ajit J Kenjale, appearing for Captain Jamdar and two others, consented to allow revenue officials to undertake preparations for the January 1 celebrations on certain conditions.

The Court noted that Jamdar has provided no objection to the Collector to make necessary preparations for the celebrations. After the function is over, Jamdar sought for the restoration of the land to its original state.

Appearing for the District Collector, Additional Government Pleader BV Samant responded that every precaution would be taken to maintain cleanliness. He also submitted that the premises would be restored to its original condition when vacated.

In view of the consent extended by Jamdar, Justice Sambre held,

“Applicant-original defendant are permitted entry in suit property from December 22, 2019 to January 12, 2020 so as to make arrangement for visitors to the disputed site and to permit the visitors to visit the site/suit property… applicant-original defendant will have the time to restore and bring the land to its original position. Application as such, allowed in the above terms.”

Thousands of people from the Dalit community gather at the Victory Pillar in Perne village to remember and pay respects to the martyrs of the Bhima Koregaon battle of 1818.

On January 1, 2018, during the bi-centenary event, violent clashes broke out killing one person and injuring several others.

Activists including Gautam Navlakha, Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira, Sudhir Dhawale, Anand Teltumbde and others were implicated after an Elgar Parishad meeting held on December 31, 2017, allegedly provoked violence at the Koregaon-Bhima village in Pune the next day.

The accused were booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other penal provisions.

The anticipatory bail pleas filed by Navlakha and Teltumbde are pending before the Bombay High Court. The Court had rejected the bail pleas filed by Bharadwaj, Gonsalves, and Ferreira in October this year.

Reportedly, ahead of 202nd anniversary event to be held on January 1, 2020, Pune Police has issued notices to over 160 people, including right wing leaders. Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, and barred them from entering the district.

[Read Order dated December 19, 2019]