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Maharashtra

Bombay HC dismisses petitions challenging delimitation of BMC wards back to 227 from 236

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Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by former corporators challenging the Maharashtra government’s ordinance reversing the previous Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s decision to go ahead with the delimitation of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) wards.

The order was passed by a division bench of Justices SB Shukre and MW Chandwani while hearing petitions filed by two former councillors – Raju Pednekar and Sameer Desai.


“We find no substance in both the petitions. Both the petitions stand dismissed,” said the bench while dismissing the petitions.

In 2021, the MVA initiated the delimitation process and increased the number of electoral wards from 227 to 236. However, on August 8, the present government reduced the number of wards to 227. On September 8, the ordinance was replaced by the Act.

Pednekar, a former corporator belonging to Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), had approached the HC after the Supreme Court granted him the liberty to withdraw his plea and move the Bombay High Court regarding the issue.

He sought quashing the government’s decision stating that it was against the Constitution. Pending the hearing of his plea, he sought a stay on the decision. Further he prayed that the State Election Commission (SEC) conduct the BMC elections based on delimitation conducted earlier, as per the Supreme Court’s orders on May 4 and July 20.

His plea had contended that in February 2022, the HC had dismissed pleas against the delimitation initiated by the MVA government increasing the BMC wards to 236. It was after this, that the SEC published a final notification in the official gazette.

The government has contended that the plea has been filed with “ulterior motives”. An affidavit filed by Priyanka Chhapwale, Deputy Secretary of the Urban Development Department, contended that there was a miniscule increase in population from 2001 to 2021 census and hence wards were not increased for the elections which took place in 2012 and 2017.

The 2001 census showed Mumbai’s population as 1,19,78,450 which increased to 1,24,42,373 in 2011 which is an increase of only 3.87%. “It is a well settled principle of law that the right to contest an election does not have the status of fundamental rights. Instead the said right is a mere creature of a statute,” it said.

Stating that the law as it stood prior to Nov 30, 2021 (with 227 seats) was valid and constitutional, the government has sought that Pednekar’s plea be dismissed which has been filed with “malafide” intentions and due to “political influence”.

The State Election Commission’s (SEC) Deputy Commissioner Avinash Sanas had filed an affidavit stating that when the seats were increased by the government from 227 to 236, the SEC had to scrap the work already done by it with regard to the pre-election process and restart it. It said the previous MVA government then amended the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act by which powers of the SEC for delimitation were withdrawn and the power was entrusted with the state.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: ‘All New Local Trains To Feature Automatic Door Closers,’ Says Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

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Mumbai: All newly manufactured local trains will be equipped with automatic door closing systems to enhance passenger safety, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday in Mumbai.

The Minister was speaking to the media on the occasion of a breakthrough in a 4.8 km tunnel for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

Highlighting the importance of Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which is often referred to as the city’s lifeline, Vaishnaw said, “In view of passenger safety, we are working to install automatic door closers on all local trains.” He added that efforts are underway to retrofit existing local trains with the automatic door closing system.

“In the future, all newly built non-AC local trains will come with provisions for automatic door closers,” he confirmed. He also noted that all AC local trains already feature this system.

The Minister further stated that the tendering process to procure 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai has already been initiated. “Soon, the face of Mumbai’s suburban rail network will be completely transformed,” he said.

“The move is expected to significantly improve passenger safety and convenience, particularly during peak hours when overcrowding can lead to accidents related to open train doors” said an official.

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Maharashtra

Government money is not anyone’s father’s, Abu Asim Azmi is angry at Muslims being told that salt is forbidden, BJP leaders’ hatred, Bihar and the secular public need to consider

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has strongly condemned BJP leader and MP and Union Minister Giriraj Singh for calling Muslims as salt haram and traitors and has appealed to the secular people and Muslims to teach the BJP a lesson in the Bihar elections. He said that the way hatred against Muslims has become common in the BJP government, communalism is on the rise and the situation is so bad that BJP leaders are sowing the seeds of hatred against Muslims and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent on it and does not even open his lips.
Giriraj Singh, who called Muslims traitors, should understand that government money does not belong to anyone’s father. I want to tell the Muslims of Bihar and Andhra Pradesh that Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu are supporting a government whose ministers have such hateful views about Muslims. Azmi said that the BJP government looks for an opportunity to humiliate Muslims and its hateful leaders constantly spread venom against Muslims. Nitish Rane in Maharashtra and Mumbai also spreads venom against Muslims. In such a situation, it is necessary to restrain the language of these ministers. It is because of such ministers and leaders that communalism is on the rise. Along with calling Muslims as forbidden salt, Giriraj Singh said that Muslims take advantage of government schemes and do not even vote. They are forbidden salt and traitors. On this, Azmi said that the government collects money by collecting taxes on everything, therefore government money does not belong to anyone’s father. The minister should keep this in mind.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Indian Coast Guard Conducts Beach Cleanship Drive At Girgaon Chowpatty And Juhu On International Coastal Cleanup Day 2025

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Mumbai, 20 Sep 25: On the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day, observed worldwide on the third Saturday of September, the Indian Coast Guard, Regional Headquarters (West) spearheaded a Beach cleanship Drive at Girgaon Chowpatty and Juhu beach, Mumbai.

Being a central coordinator for the marine pollution response, the Indian Coast Guard with a motto We Protect, has been coordinating the Coastal clean-up activity since 2006 wherein approx. 75,000 kgs of waste is cleared from the Indian shores annually.

The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from numerous organisations including NCC, NSS, NGOs, Schools, Colleges, other government agencies alongside media personnel and people from various walks of the life, who voluntarily contributed to the noble cause of cleaner seas.

During the four hour drive, approximately 3000 Kgs garbage/litter was collected and subsequently disposed off with the assistance of the BMC.As part of the awareness campaign, a painting competition was also organized by the Indian Coast Guard for children in the age group of 6 to 8 years, with over 50 students showcasing their creativity on the theme of environmental conservation.

The outstanding paintings were appreciated and felicitated in the presence of Dr Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Municipal Commissioner BMC, who graced the noble cause as a special guest of the Indian Coast Guard and Inspector General Bhisham Sharma, PTM, TM, Commander, Coast Guard Region (West).

In total, around 1000 participants actively took part in the Beach cleanship, reiterating the collective commitment towards Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar.

The annual activity of the Indian Coast Guard taking along the civil populace has once again reaffirmed the resolve to safeguard the oceans, protect marine life and bequeath a cleaner, healthier environment to the generations yet to come.

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