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Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking direction to designate BMC as sole planning authority for Mumbai

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6 months ago

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New Delhi, Dec 16: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a direction to the Urban Development Department of Maharashtra government to designate BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) as the sole and centralised planning and sanctioning authority for the city of Mumbai.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the petitioner, Earth, a non-government organisation, to approach the Bombay High Court.

Sensing the disclination of the apex court to entertain the plea, the petitioner’s counsel sought liberty to withdraw the PIL. Ultimately, the matter was dismissed as withdrawn by the apex court.

The PIL said that Section 40 of the Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, which empowers the state government to appoint a Special Planning Authority (SPA) for notified areas, was enacted before the Constitution (74th Amendment) Act, effective June 1993.

“This amendment introduced Part IXA, titled ‘The Municipalities’ (Articles 243P to 243ZG along with Twelfth Schedule), establishing the framework for the constitution, composition, and responsibilities of Municipalities. However, Section 40 was not amended to explicitly define the roles, powers, and functions of a SPA concerning matters outlined in Schedule XII,” the plea added.

Despite this lack of clarity, the Urban Development Department proceeded to appoint multiple SPAs, which diluted the planning and sanctioning powers of BMC, contented the petition, adding that “this ambiguity has adversely affected BMC’s ability to address key issues in Schedule XII, including urban planning, land use regulation, building construction, road and bridge maintenance, and slum improvement”.

The PIL, filed through advocate Dilip Annasaheb Taur, said that the approach has hindered urban development and limited citizens’ access to amenities due to a lack of transparency and consistency in the approval processes of the SPAs, the transfer of public amenities, and the execution of the 18 responsibilities outlined in the Schedule XII.

“The insufficient transparency in transferring amenities to the BMC obstructs effective urban planning and negatively impacts residents, depriving them of essential services and facilities,” it said.

The BMC established under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888 (MMC Act), serves as both the governing civic body and the planning authority for Mumbai in accordance with the MRTP Act, 1966.

The petition said that the existence of multiple planning authorities (without a clear delineation of duties) has led to certain operational inefficiencies, and the planning and sanctioning process of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) is laced with “major deficiencies”.

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Maharashtra

Major Reshuffle in Mumbai Police: Multiple DCPs Transferred

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16 hours ago

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May 30, 2025

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Mumbai, May 30, 2025: In a significant administrative move, the Mumbai Police Establishment Board has ordered the transfer of several Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), following a meeting held on April 30, 2025. The reshuffle aims to enhance operational efficiency and streamline law enforcement across the city.

Part A: Internal Transfers within Mumbai Police

  1. Krishna Kant Upadhyay, previously in charge of Headquarters-1, has been transferred to serve as DCP, Zone 3.
  2. Dattakishan Salgar, who was with the Prohibition and Narcotics Branch, will now head Zone 10.
  3. Mahesh Bhanushali Chimte, earlier in charge of Protection, has been posted to Zone 11.
  4. Narayana Dakhale, who was posted in Zone 6, will now lead the Special Crime Branch.
  5. Vijaykant Namdev Samar, transferred from Zone 7, has been appointed as Port Police DCP.
  6. Prashant Ashokdas Pardeshi, previously responsible for Mantralaya Security, has been posted to Traffic (South).
  7. Ninit Gokhale will now serve in the Special Force Unit (Anti-Naxal Operation).
  8. Vikas Kavade, from Zone 9, has been transferred to Special Branch-2.
  9. Purushottam Ramrao Kale, formerly with Crime Branch-1, is now posted to the Andheri Crime Branch.
  10. Salim Bh. Gulate, previously in Zone 10, will now serve as DCP (Crime Branch, General).

Part B: Transfers from Outside Mumbai to Mumbai

  1. Sameer Arshad Shaikh, Police Officer from Satara (transferred on 23/04/2025), has been posted as DCP, Zone 6.
  2. Rakesh Aol, Police Officer from Akola (transferred on 26/04/2025), has been posted as DCP, Zone 7.
  3. Raj Tilak Roshan, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Law & Order), Maharashtra State, Mumbai (transferred on 27/04/2025), has been posted to the Disclosure Department.

All newly appointed officers have been instructed to take charge immediately and confirm their joining with the Senior Administration Office (PS-3). This major reshuffle is expected to bring fresh leadership to crucial zones and departments within Mumbai Police and is seen as a step toward strengthening the city’s law and order mechanisms.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police DCP Internal Transfer Dutta Nalawde Zone 10 and Aslam Shaikh Zone 6 appointed

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17 hours ago

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May 30, 2025

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Mumbai: Internal transfers have been made in Mumbai Police, under which Krishna Kant Upadhyay has been transferred to Zone 3, he was earlier in Police Headquarters 1. DCP Detection Datta Nalawade has been transferred to Zone 10 and Sachin Ganjal has been transferred to Preventive. Mahesh Chamte has been transferred from Protection to Zone 12, Zone 6 Nunath Dhule to Anti-Narcotics Cell, Zone 7 Vijay Kant Sagar to Sea Protection Port Zone, Prasant Pardesi Mantralaya to Traffic South, Nimit Goel from LA to STF EOW, Zone 3 Dattatre Kamble SB 1, Parshottam Karad Cyber ​​Crime, Aslam Sheikh has been transferred to Zone 6. Rakesh Ola has been transferred to Zone 7, Raj Tilak Roshan to Detection Crime Branch, DCPs.

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Maharashtra

Two Arrested in Malvani for Printing Fake Indian Currency Notes

Published

18 hours ago

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May 30, 2025

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Date: 30th May 2025 Location: Malvani, Mumbai

In a major breakthrough, Malvani Police from Zone XI have arrested two individuals involved in the printing and circulation of counterfeit Indian currency notes. The accused were apprehended from the Malvani area of Malad (West), Mumbai, following a tip-off received by Senior Police Inspector Dr. Deepak Hinge.

Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the police raided a rented room near Sai Baba Mandir in Malvani’s Gate No. 8 on 29th May 2025 around 10:30 PM. The operation was led by a special team comprising Crime Detection Unit officers and beat marshals from Malvani Police Station.

During the raid, the police seized a total of 1,000 fake notes in ₹500 denomination, amounting to a face value of ₹5,00,000. In addition, they confiscated tools used in the counterfeiting operation, including a laptop, printer, cutter, ink, and blank note paper. Police estimate the material could have been used to print up to ₹23,30,000 in fake currency.

The arrested individuals have been identified as:

  1. Sampat Saamarya Ujjanpalli (Age 46), originally from Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra.
  2. Hasimoddin Gafur Sheikh (Age 30), resident of Ghansawangi, Jalna district, Maharashtra.

Both individuals have been booked under IPC Sections 489A, 489C, 489D, 34, and other relevant provisions for counterfeiting currency and are currently in police custody.

Senior officials from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), including senior police inspectors and crime detection teams, played a crucial role in guiding the investigation.

Malvani Police are continuing further investigations to trace other individuals possibly involved in this fake currency network and to understand if there are any links to organized crime syndicates.

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