'All Citizens Are Being Made Slaves Of Government': Bombay HC Questions Action Against Protesters
'All Citizens Are Being Made Slaves Of Government': Bombay HC Questions Action Against Protesters Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 19:23 IST During the
'All Citizens Are Being Made Slaves Of Government': Bombay HC Questions Action Against Protesters Published By, Last Updated: July 02, 2026, 19:23 IST During the hearing, the single-judge bench strongly defended citizens' right to protest and questioned the registration of criminal cases against demonstrators. The judge also reminded the police of their constitutional role, saying they serve the public and not the political executive.(Image: File) Bombay High Court Judge Justice Madhav Jamdar on Thursday made a strong observation, saying all citizens are being made slaves of the Indian Government while questioning the government’s approach towards protests and the functioning of law enforcement. The remarks came on Thursday while Justice Jamdar was hearing a plea filed by Saeed Ahmad Abdul Wahid Chaudhary, a leader of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), challenging an externment order issued by the Mumbai Police.
During the hearing, the single-judge bench strongly defended citizens’ right to protest and questioned the registration of criminal cases against demonstrators. “All citizens are being made slaves of the Indian Government. They cannot stage protests, they cannot agitate. What is all this? Now so many papers have been leaked. If people protest, you will slap cases… What is this?" Justice Jamdar orally observed, Live Law reported. The judge also reminded the police of their constitutional role, saying they serve the public and not the political executive. “Police aren’t the servants of the Chief Minister or the Prime Minister. They are public servants. I am going to impose hefty costs on your officers," Justice Jamdar remarked. Questioning the basis for action against political protests, the judge asked why a petitioner could not raise slogans such as “BJP Government Murdabad".
Justice Jamdar also made broader observations on the political situation in Maharashtra, referring to allegations of political defections. “Horse trading is going on in entire Maharashtra," he remarked, as reported by Live Law. Referring to recent political developments, the judge also quipped that a political leader facing multiple FIRs should “consider switching sides, there is a washing machine"—an apparent reference to a phrase frequently used in political discourse to allege that leaders who join the ruling party escape legal scrutiny. The judge further criticised the priorities of the political establishment, referring to the recent death of a 10-year-old child in an accident. “Day before yesterday, a 10-year-old child was killed in an accident, and what the State Assembly was discussing was how a Presiding Officer is elected and how he has shifted from one party to another.
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