The MPSC protest at S M Joshi bridge near Patrakar Bhavan in Pune’s Navi Peth continued despite city police denying permission for the gathering and directing organisers to vacate the site. Hundreds of protesters assembled at the bridge at night, while six remained on hunger strike for the fifth consecutive day, according to the organisers and police notice cited in the report.
The protesters are demanding reforms in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission examination system and the resignation of MPSC chairman Vivek Bhimanvar. Protesters Pramod Patil and Pramod Gite had written to the police seeking permission to continue the agitation at the bridge. In response, DCP (Special Branch) Prashant Amrutkar issued them a notice under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, denying permission for the protest at the location.
The police notice asked protesters to vacate the area immediately. It said the authorities would consider applications for an alternative protest site near the Dr B R Ambedkar statue by the Pune District Collectorate. Amrutkar confirmed that the notice was issued late on Wednesday and said the police had not received a communication seeking permission for the alternate location.
The dispute has also affected the movement of traffic across the bridge. Vehicles were allowed to pass through one side during the day when the crowd was smaller, while protesters objected when traffic was permitted during the evening gathering. Rohit Pawar, who has been among the prominent voices at the protest, questioned the police action and said the protesters had sought permission but had not received it.
The notice cited a warning of a Pune bandh attributed to Pawar as one of the reasons for denying permission. The police described the statement as inciting and said it had created a feeling of insecurity among citizens. The notice also stated that the protesters had initially called off an October 2 agitation after a meeting on September 30, during which the Chief Minister had agreed to a majority of the demands raised by student representatives.
According to the police account, a protest began at the bridge from October 1 without permission or prior intimation. The Vishrambag police station subsequently informed protesters in writing that the agitation was illegal, but the gathering continued. The protesters, however, have maintained their demands and continued to assemble at the site.
The police also referred to directions issued by the Bombay High Court on October 7 while hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by Pune residents Amit Supekar and Saurabh Veerkar. The petitioners had raised concerns about inconvenience caused to the public by the protest. The court, while acknowledging the right to peaceful and lawful protest, directed authorities to ensure that blockades on public spaces such as bridges and roads did not adversely affect the daily lives of Punekars.
The notice quoted the court’s direction that the state should take reasonable steps to ensure the free flow of roads was not affected by protest-related blockages. This has placed the ongoing agitation at the intersection of student demands, the administration of public spaces and the city’s need to maintain traffic movement on a key bridge.
Two other protests linked to MPSC demands were also reported in Pune. The agitation at Alka Talkies was called off after the High Court order, while a protest on Lal Bahadur Shastri Road, mainly demanding an objective pattern in MPSC examinations, continued. Organiser Nitin Andhale said that the protesters at that location had also sought police permission but had not received fresh communication from the authorities.
