Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday orally remarked that it may direct departmental enquiries against civic officials who fail to act on complaints of illegal hoardings within a fixed time. The court said this would be included in its order to be passed in two weeks.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Sandesh Patil was hearing a batch of petitions highlighting the rampant menace of unauthorised banners across Maharashtra. Advocate General Birendra Saraf submitted a set of proposals prepared by the state government to tackle the issue.

One key suggestion was that all political parties file fresh undertakings before the court within four weeks, assuring they will not put up banners without permission. Parties, identified as the “biggest violators,” would also have to submit affidavits within a month, spelling out compliance measures and naming a responsible representative.

For Mumbai, the Senior Inspector of Licence in every ward would be appointed as a “Ward Level Nodal Officer” responsible for removing illegal hoardings and ensuring compliance with court directions. Similar officers would be named in other municipal corporations, councils and zilla parishads.

Citizens would get toll-free complaint numbers with options to upload photos and locations of illegal banners. Even anonymous complaints would need to be acted upon. Nodal officers would conduct daily rounds and initiate legal action against violators.

The proposals also call for stricter checks: authorised banners would carry QR codes with organiser details and validity. Officers removing illegal hoardings would be required to photograph them as proof and keep records for police reference.

A Secretary-level officer in the state government would supervise compliance. Municipal bodies and district collectors would file bi-monthly reports, to be reviewed through quarterly meetings with the supervising officer. Citizen committees would be formed at the ward level to monitor hoardings and escalate lapses.

Emphasising that violations fall under the Defacement Act, the compilation said police must register cases once municipal officers report offences.

The bench noted: “If Nodal officers don’t perform their duty, then what is the mechanism? Some departmental enquiry? If negligence is found, then a departmental enquiry within 4-8 weeks, we will add.” The HC has scheduled the matter for hearing on October 15.

Mumbai: Businessman and former Chairman of the Maharashtra State Minority Commission, as well as BJP Transport Cell President, Haji Arafat Alamgir Shaikh (47), lodged a police complaint against Kurla’s Fauziya Hospital, accusing the management and staff of gross negligence and mistreatment of his 71-year-old mother, Shama Shaikh, who was admitted for treatment.

According to the complaint filed at VB Road Police Station, Shama Shaikh who has been suffering from diabetes for five years and had previously experienced a paralysis attack was admitted to Fauziya Hospital on September 15 after complaints of vomiting.

As per the FIR, on September 16, while asleep on her hospital bed, Shama Shaikh allegedly fell to the floor because the bed had no safety railing. She sustained injuries to her face, eyes, stomach, legs, and knees. Haji Arafat claimed that although a domestic aide tried to raise an alarm, no nurse or ward boy attended to her for nearly 20 minutes. When staff eventually responded, the night doctor reportedly dismissed the incident, saying, “These small things happen in hospitals. Shift the old woman, we’ll see in the morning.”

Despite her injuries, Shaikh’s mother allegedly received no medical treatment for over 12 hours. No doctor reportedly visited until 10 a.m. the following day, by which time swelling and black marks had appeared on her face and under her eyes due to internal bleeding.

Haji Arafat further alleged that when his family doctor, Sohail Khan, visited and insisted on treatment, only then were medical procedures initiated.

The complainant accused hospital director Dr. Anjum Deshmukh, administrator Usman Shaikh, and duty nurses Amisha Mali and Pratima Gupta of negligence. Additionally, Riyaz Shaikh, a hospital staffer who came to conduct an X-ray 24 hours later, allegedly behaved rudely with the elderly patient, saying in an insulting tone: “Eat later, don’t you understand? I don’t have time for this now.”

Claiming neglect, irresponsibility, and inhumane behavior, Haji Arafat filed a formal complaint at VB Road Police Station. Based on his statement, a case has been registered against the hospital’s directors and staff. V. B. Marg Police have begun further investigation into the matter.

In a shocking case from Mumbai, an 18-year-old girl, found to be eight months pregnant during a medical examination at Cama Hospital, initially gave a false statement to police to protect her boyfriend. The matter came to light after doctors, suspecting she was underage, informed the police, prompting an investigation.

According to the initial report, the victim claimed that while on a trip to Matheran with friends, she was sexually assaulted by an unknown man. She alleged that the man, despite knowing she was underage, forced himself on her at a lodge. Based on this account, the Matheran Police began investigating the case.

The investigation took a turn when police interrogated the victim’s close friend. The friend confirmed that she and another friend had gone to Matheran in July, but the victim had not accompanied them. This directly contradicted the victim’s earlier story.

Confronted with this evidence, the victim admitted in a supplementary statement recorded on September 25 that her initial account was fabricated.

The victim revealed that her 17-year-old boyfriend was responsible for her pregnancy. She stated that he repeatedly engaged in sexual relations with her when she was still a minor, around January or February 2024, at his maternal uncle’s residence.

Based on the revised statements and corroboration from her friends, investigators established that the offence occurred within the jurisdiction of the Wadala TT Police Station. Consequently, the Matheran Police have officially transferred the case to Wadala TT Police for further investigation. The 17-year-old boyfriend has been booked under relevant sections, and further inquiries are underway.