National News
Bombay HC Slams BMC Over Potholes, Says Civic Bodies Must Compensate Victims Of Fatalities And Accidents
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court sharply rebuked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other civic bodies on Friday for its failure to address the persistent problem of potholes on city roads, suggesting that they should be prepared to compensate victims of accidents and fatalities caused by the hazardous conditions.
A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh Patil criticised the authorities while hearing a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) hearing regarding the perilous state of city and MMR’s road infrastructure.
The expressed concern, stating, “Roads that once lasted for decades are now developing craters after just one rainfall.” The bench emphasised that the authorities must be ready to offer compensation for both injuries and fatalities resulting from potholes, and raised serious questions about the number of lives lost and injuries sustained due to the neglect of road maintenance. The judges also hinted at the possibility of holding the BMC and other authorities accountable for such tragedies by making them liable for compensation.
Advocate Ruju Thakker, who initially filed a contempt petition against authorities for non-compliance with a 2018 High Court order on potholes, informed the court that five people had died due to potholes—one each in Mumbai and Thane, and three in Bhiwandi.
In response, the the bench remarked, “When someone in the family dies, the entire family’s livelihood is affected. The breadwinner is lost due to sheer negligence. The BMC must be prepared to pay compensation for such losses,” the bench warned.
Senior advocate Jamshed Mistry, appointed as amicus curiae (friend of the court) in the case, pointed out the absence of a public liability insurance system in India, which is commonly found in other countries to cover accidents caused by public infrastructure.
“In other countries, there is a system of public liability insurance to cover such incidents, but in India, this is lacking. Why should citizens bear the brunt of such neglect (by authorities)?” Mistry said.
The court further instructed the BMC’s chief engineer and a senior officer from the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to appear before it next week with detailed reports on the number of deaths and injuries caused by potholes.
“The issue of granting compensation for these pothole-related fatalities will be considered during the next hearing,” the HC said.
It added: “Learned counsel appearing for the respective respondents to also take instructions, as to whether the (civic) corporations are willing to assume responsibility for the medical expenditure of the persons injured on account of potholes within their respective jurisdiction, as the corporations appear to have breached several orders passed by this court from time to time.”
In October 2024, the HC had revived a 2018 PIL concerning pothole repairs across Mumbai and its metropolitan region, after disposing of Thakker’s contempt plea. The court had previously ordered the civic authorities to address potholes and establish a uniform mechanism for addressing public grievances related to road maintenance.
Crime
Samrat Choudhary takes charge as Bihar Home Minister; warns criminals

Patna, Nov 22: After becoming Bihar’s Home Minister, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has taken a tough stance on maintaining law and order in the state.
On Saturday, soon after assuming office, he issued a stern warning to criminals, declaring that no offender would be spared and that the police had been given full freedom to act.
Deputy CM Choudhary said that the police are no longer bound and now have complete authority to take action openly.
He reaffirmed that criminals have no place in Bihar and asserted that the Home Ministry will work under the guidance of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Good governance, he said, existed earlier and would continue even more firmly in the future.
He added that the ‘jungle raj’ that had been eliminated would not be allowed to return.
Responding to a query about his earlier controversial remark — saying that criminals in Bihar would be cremated in Gaya — the State Home Minister said the police were doing their job.
This marks the first time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has handed over the Home Department to the BJP since 2005.
In the new Cabinet, along with Nitish Kumar, 26 Ministers were sworn-in.
Samrat Choudhary has been appointed both the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, while Vijay Kumar Sinha has also been appointed the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
He is holding the charge of Revenue, Land Reforms and Mining departments in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.
Ministers from all NDA constituents have found a place in the Bihar Cabinet.
The BJP has the highest representation in the state Cabinet with 14 Ministers, followed by Janata Dal-United with eight, Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas with two, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) with one, and Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) with one.
Despite having two Deputy CMs and 14 Ministers, the BJP’s share of the allocated departmental budget is lower compared to JD-U.
The BJP controls 29.22 per cent of the total budget, LJP-RV Ministers 0.91 per cent, HAM 0.58 per cent, and RLM 3.56 per cent.
The remaining departments, accounting for around 65 per cent of the total budget, remain with the JD-U.
Crime
Palghar Crime: 3 Arrested For Attempted Murder And ₹10 Lakh Robbery In Vasai; Police Bust Interstate 6-Member Gang

Palghar, Maharashtra, Nov 22: The Crime Detection Unit (Unit 2) of the Mira-Bhayander, Vasai-Virar Police has arrested three men involved in an attempted murder and armed robbery at a residence in Vasai, recovering gold jewellery and cash worth ₹10 lakh.
The incident took place on November 18 when three unidentified men forcibly entered the home of 37-year-old Geeta Raut in Reliable Glory Building at Sativali, Vasai West.
The intruders threatened Raut and her son Santosh at knifepoint, demanding information about the location of their gold. When Raut said she did not know, one of the assailants attempted to stab her.
She managed to evade the blow but sustained an injury to her left arm. The attackers then broke open a cupboard and escaped with 12 tolas of gold ornaments and a mobile phone.
Following the registration of the case at Waliv Police Station, officials conducted a detailed investigation at the crime scene and surrounding areas.
Through technical analysis and intelligence from informers, the police identified the suspects and learned that they were residing in Nandagaon, Karnataka.
A team was immediately dispatched, and on November 20, three accused were detained along with 8 tolas of stolen gold, cash, and a mobile phone, collectively valued at ₹10 lakh. During interrogation, it was revealed that they were part of a six-member gang involved in the crime.
The arrested accused have been identified as Ashok alias Babu Raju Shinde, a resident of Shantinagar Dongripada in Vasai East originally from Nandagaon in Karnataka; Abdul Rauf Hashmi, a resident of Richard Compound in Manocha Pada, Vasai East originally from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh; and Ritik Ravi Belangi, also living in Richard Compound and originally from Nandagaon in Karnataka.
Police have also named three absconding accomplices: Nur Hasan Khan from Patil Wadi in Nalasopara East, Suraj Kishor Jadhav from Shantinagar in Nalasopara East, and Kalu Prabhakar Sahu from Kendrapara in Odisha.
The detained suspects have been handed over to Waliv Police for further action under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Further investigation is underway.
National News
Mega Block On Sunday, 23-11-2025: Mumbai Local Train Services To Be Affected On CR’s Main Line, No Block On Harbour & Trans-Harbour Line; Check Details

Mumbai, Nov 22: Central Railway, Mumbai Division will operate Mega Block on its main line suburban sections to carry out various engineering and maintenance works on Sunday, 23th November.
UP and DOWN FAST Lines between Thane and Kalyan stations from 10.40 am to 3.40 pm
Down Fast/Semi-Fast local services departing CSMT Mumbai from 09.34 am to 15
3.03 pm will be diverted on Down Slow line between Thane and Kalyan stations halting at Kalva, Mumbra and Diva stations in addition to their respective scheduled halts and will arrive destination 10 minutes later than their scheduled arrival.
Up Fast/Semi-fast services departing Kalyan from 10.28 am to 3.40 pm will be diverted on Up Slow line between Kalyan and Thane stations halting at Diva, Mumbra and Kalva stations in addition to their respective scheduled halts and further re-diverted on Up Fast line at Mulund station and will arrive destination 10 minutes later than their scheduled arrival.
Down Mail/Express trains departing CSMT/Dadar will be diverted on 5th line between Thane and Kalyan stations.
Up Mail/Express trains arriving CSMT/Dadar will be diverted on 6th line between Kalyan and Thane/ Vikhroli stations.
There will be no Mega block on Harbour line & Trans-Harbour line-Only special traffic block between Belapur & Panvel.
According to Railway, these maintenance mega blocks are essential for infrastructure upkeep and safety. Passengers are requested to bear with the Railway Administration for the inconvenience caused.
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