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Maharashtra

Maharashtra local body polls: Supreme Court orders status quo, will set up special bench

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supreme court

 The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Maharashtra government and the state election commission (SEC) to maintain the status quo in connection with the poll process to the local bodies in the state.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana said the matter needs a detailed hearing and a separate special bench would be set up for the final disposal. The bench, also comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and J.B. Pardiwala, was hearing a plea of the Maharashtra government seeking a recall of top court’s order, directing the SEC not to re-notify the poll process to 367 local bodies in order to provide reservation to OBCs.

The bench said, “The matter requires an elaborate hearing. In view of that we direct the parties to maintain the status quo. List the matter after five weeks.”

The Maharashtra government had sought recall or modification of July 28 order, and also a direction to the SEC to hold the elections for the 96 local bodies, out of 367 local bodies, namely 92 municipal councils and four nagar panchayats, allowing OBC reservation as per the report prepared by the Dedicated Commission for Reservation for Backward Class of Citizens in local bodies of the state.

On July 28, the top court had cautioned SEC of contempt action if it re-notifies the election process to 367 local bodies, where the process has already commenced, to provide reservation to OBCs.

The state government had contended that under the constitutional scheme, it was deemed fit to give political reservation to OBCs to ensure that they are duly represented inside the government and their voice is heard.

On July 20, the Supreme Court accepted the recommendations of the Banthia commission to apply 27 per cent OBC reservations in the local body elections in Maharashtra, and directed that election for the local bodies in the state be notified in the next two weeks.

On July 28, the apex court had said the poll schedule was already notified when it allowed OBC reservation and the polls for those bodies must be held without the OBC reservation. It said the state election commission cannot interfere with the election, which has already been notified and only the dates can be re-aligned. The top court did not appreciate that despite clarifying the issue several times, the SEC had taken a decision to reschedule the poll. It made it clear SEC and the concerned officials would be liable for contempt of court for breaching its order.

The top court, in December 2021, had ruled that reservation for OBCs in local bodies will not be allowed unless the government fulfils the triple test laid down in the apex court’s 2010 order.

Crime

Mira-Bhayandar Shocker: 41-Year-Old Drunk Caretaker Assaults Ailing Senior Citizen In Mira Road, Accused Absconding

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Mira-Bhayandar Shocker: 41-Year-Old Drunk Caretaker Assaults Ailing Senior Citizen In Mira Road, Accused Absconding

Mira Bhayandar: The Mira Road police are on the lookout for a 41-year-old caretaker who brutally assaulted a 78-year-old senior citizen at his apartment in Mira Road in an inebriated state.

The senior citizen-Chandrakant Shinde and his 74-year-old wife Madhuri stay in the Hatkesh area of Mira Road. Shinde who has retired from the Indian Railways is bedridden since he suffered a paralytic stroke on 11, July.

To take care of his bedridden father, his son who lives in Pen had hired the caretaker identified as- Babula Raghunath Naahak (41) through Prakash Nursing Home Bureau-an agency operating from the Marve Road area in Malad (west). Naahak joined work on 24, August.

The incident was reported at around 11 pm on 27, September when Shinde was alone in the house. Naahak, who was in a highly inebriated state, started tossing the chairs and other household furniture. Irate over being stopped, Naahak mounted a violent attack on Shinde by climbing over him and raining blows on his face, chest and legs.

Before fleeing the spot, he also threatened Shinde of killing his wife if he revealed about the incident to anybody. Upon returning, Shinde’s wife was shocked to find him in a badly injured state. She immediately informed one of their neighbours who called their family doctor.

After first aid treatment, Shinde who suffered multiple injuries all over his body was admitted to a nearby hospital. The chest CT scan reports detected rib fractures which according to doctors may need surgical stabilization.

It has been alleged that the police took their own sweet time to register an offence apparently due to jurisdictional confusion in such a sensitive and horrific crime against a bedridden senior citizen.

“Since the senior citizen had been brutally assaulted, we were waiting for the medical reports so that appropriate and stringent sections of the BNS could be inked in the FIR. We immediately summoned the operator of the nursing agency and questioned him about the accused. We have launched a man hunt and the accused will be behind the bars soon.” clarified senior police inspector of the Mira Road police station- Chandrakant Sarode.

Meanwhile an offence under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS ) for voluntarily causing grievous hurt and criminal intimidation was registered on 28, September against the accused who is said to be a resident of Borivali, but is now absconding.

The incident also raises a serious question mark on the operations of manpower supply agencies who recruit personnel without due care of verifying their antecedents. In this particular case, the accused would regularly come to the house in a drunken stupor, abuse and assault the elderly couple who were forced to endure the ordeal owing to their age and feeble state.

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Crime

Mumbai: Airport Customs Seizes 1.34 Kg Of Ganja Worth ₹1.34 Crore From Bangkok Passenger

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Mumbai: On September 30, 2024, The Airport Commissionerate, Mumbai, Zone-III, on profiling intercepted a passenger who arrived from Bangkok and seized 1346 grams of suspected Ganja (Marijuana) with an estimated provisional value of ₹1.34 Crore.

The contraband was ingeniously packed in vacuum-sealed packets and further concealed inside food packets, which were placed inside a trolley bag carried by the passenger.

This diligent effort culminated in the arrest of the passenger under the NDPS Act, 1985, for possession and attempted smuggling of narcotic substance.

The Airport Commissionerate remains committed to maintaining stringent security measures and ensuring the safety and well-being of the citizens by curbing such illegal activities.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: MMMOCL Announces Extension Of Metro Train Services During Navratri; 12 Extra Trips Daily

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Mumbai: MMMOCL Announces Extension Of Metro Train Services During Navratri; 12 Extra Trips Daily

The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) has announced an extension of its metro train services during the Navratri Festival. The announcement was made by Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, who emphasized the importance of enhancing transportation services to accommodate increased demand during the festive period.

To support late-night commuters attending Navratri celebrations, additional metro services will be provided between October 7 and October 11, 2024. During these dates, 12 extra trips will be operated daily, with a headway of 15 minutes, to ensure that citizens attending midnight festivities can travel conveniently and economically.

Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, Chairman Of MMMOCL Speaks On The Decision

Speaking on the decision, Mukherjee, who is also Chairman of MMMOCL stated, “Navratri is a festival that brings people together, and it is our responsibility to provide efficient and safe transportation for all devotees and citizens. By extending the metro train services, we are ensuring that commuters have an easy and comfortable travel option during late-night celebrations.”

Statement Of Rubal Aggarwal, Managing Director Of MMMOCL

Rubal Aggarwal, Managing Director of MMMOCL added, ”We are committed to meeting the needs of our commuters, and the decision to extend train timings during the Navratri Festival reflects our dedication to enhancing commuter experience. The additional services will ensure safe and reliable travel for those participating in the festivities.”

From October 7 to October 11, the existing daily trips will be 282, with an additional 12 trips scheduled for Navratri, resulting in a total of 294 trips.

Extended Timetable:

Additional trips are planned past 23:00 hrs, with the following timings:

Andheri West to Gundavali:
23:15 PM – 00:24 AM
23:30 PM – 00:39 AM
23:45 PM – 00:54 AM
00:00 AM – 01:09 AM
00:15 AM – 01:24 AM
00:30 AM – 01:39 AM

Gundavali to Andheri West:
23:15 PM – 00:24 AM
23:30 PM – 00:39 AM
23:45 PM – 00:54 AM
00:00 AM – 01:09 AM
00:15 AM – 01:24 AM
00:30 AM – 01:39 AM

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