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Maharashtra

Iqbal Chagla Passes Away At 86: The Legal Luminary And Champion Of Human Rights

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Senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, 86, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a period of ill health. The son of Mahommedali Currim Chagla, the first Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court of independent India, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the legal fraternity.

Chagla, father of sitting Bombay High Court judge, Justice Riyaz Chagla, served as the president of the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) three times.

Born in 1939, he earned an MA in History and Law from Cambridge University before beginning his practice at the Bombay High Court. He trained under the renowned Kharshedji Hormasji Bhabha and was designated a Senior Advocate in 1979. Between 1990 and 1999, he served as the BBA president and held other prominent roles, including as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of India and the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).

Despite being offered a judgeship thrice — twice by the Bombay High Court and once by the Supreme Court — Chagla declined, potentially forfeiting an opportunity to become the Chief Justice of India.

During his tenure as BBA president, Chagla played a pivotal role in calling for the resignation of four Bombay HC judges over allegations of impropriety. The BBA passed a resolution under his leadership, resulting in some judges resigning and others being transferred.

Chagla was highly regarded for his expertise in civil litigation, company law, and international arbitration. Known for his integrity and gentle demeanor, he was a sought-after counsel who often argued complex and high-profile cases.

BBA president Nitin Thakker described Chagla as a stalwart of the legal fraternity and a champion of human rights. “He has been an inspiration for so many young lawyers due to his court demeanor, his fairness and his integrity. He has been a champion of defending human rights and a fierce fighter for upholding rule of law. Above all he was a gentleman and a great human being. Bombay Bar Association has lost a stalwart and his loss is immense.”

Former BBA president Rajiv Chavan lauded Chagla’s legal brilliance and sportsmanship. “He was an outstanding lawyer, humane, and a cricket enthusiast. His loss will be deeply felt in the legal community and beyond. Despite his perfectionism, he was always kind and approachable.” Reminiscing how, Chagla had been kind to him, Chavan said the late senior advocate guided and inspired everyone to achieve greater things. 

The BBA issued a statement mourning Chagla’s demise: “Mr. I.M. Chagla’s contributions to the legal field are immeasurable. His dedication, integrity, and excellence have inspired generations of legal professionals. We extend our condolences to his family in this difficult time.”

Chagla’s funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Worli Crematorium in Mumbai.

Notable Cases 

Chagla represented Nestlé India during the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) ban on Maggi noodles, successfully arguing for the export of the product despite the ban in the Indian market.

He also handled the high-profile legal dispute between corporate lawyers Cyril and Shardul Shroff over their mother’s will, leading to the amicable division of their firm, Amarchand Mangaldas, into two entities.

In 2004, he represented Dr. Anahita Pandole in a pioneering Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against illegal hoardings in Mumbai.

After the 26/11 terror attacks, Chagla, representing the Society of Indian Law Firms, filed a PIL seeking the establishment of a Citizens Coordination Committee to monitor and advise on safety measures in Mumbai.

A towering figure in Indian law, Iqbal Chagla will be remembered for his legal acumen, unwavering integrity, and his dedication to upholding the rule of law.

Maharashtra

Accused of beating blind woman in disabled compartment of Mumbai local train arrested

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Mumbai: The Railway PRP has claimed to have arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali for allegedly beating up a blind woman in a disabled compartment in a Mumbai local train. Mohammad Ismail Hassan Ali was travelling in a disabled compartment with his pregnant wife and 10-year-old daughter in a train departing from Mumbai’s CST railway station. During this, a blind woman, 33, entered the compartment. Other passengers requested Hassan Ali to give up his seat for the disabled woman. He refused. During this, the victim abused him, so Hassan Ali, 40, got angry and started beating up the woman. Somehow, the passengers in the compartment saved the blind woman and the beating went viral on social media, after which comments on it also started on social media. Taking notice of this, Kalyan GRP took action and arrested Mohammad Ismail Hassan, a resident of Mumbra, and the matter has been handed over to the police for further investigation. A case has also been registered against Hassan Ali for traveling in a disabled compartment without any excuse, assaulting, and violating the rights of a blind passenger.

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Maharashtra

Traffic police collect fines worth over Rs. 556 crore

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‎Mumbai: Through the ‘Mumbai One State One Challan’ digital portal, the Mumbai Traffic Police Department has collected challans worth a whopping Rs 556 crore 64 lakh 21 thousand 950 (₹5,564,219,050) between January 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025. This revelation came through an RTI application. During the said period, a total of 1,81,613 online complaints were received on the portal, out of which 1,07,850 complaints were rejected. That is, about 59% of the complaints were rejected.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Anil Galgali had sought information from the Mumbai Traffic Police on e-challan complaints. According to Mumbai Traffic Police, the classification of complaints received based on vehicle types (such as two-wheelers, four-wheelers, goods vehicles, passenger vehicles, etc.) is not available on the ‘One State One Challan’ portal, due to which it is currently impossible to analyse the action taken on specific vehicle categories.
‎Complaint Investigation Procedure:

‎All complaints are investigated at the Multimedia Cell, Traffic Headquarters, Worli, Mumbai. It involves examining the images of the vehicle and the visual evidence around it. If the images or evidence are not clear, it is sent to the concerned traffic department or police station for investigation. The final decision to uphold or cancel the challan will be taken only after receiving the local investigation report.
‎RTI activist Anil Galgali said that it is the need of the hour that the e-challan system should be transparent. Citizens should be given a full and fair opportunity to present their views and every complaint should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

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health

Maharashtra reports two Covid-linked deaths, govt urges citizens not to panic

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Mumbai, May 21: Maharashtra has reported two Covid-related deaths since January this year, the state health department has said, adding that the two were patients with comorbidities.

The department, late Tuesday night, stated that both deaths were reported from Mumbai and involved patients with comorbidities (simultaneous presence of two or more medical conditions in a person). One of the deceased had nephrotic syndrome with hypocalcemia seizure, while the other was a cancer patient.

According to the health department, a total of 6,066 swab samples have been examined for coronavirus since January, of which 106 tested positive for the infectious disease. Of these, 101 were from Mumbai and the remaining from Pune, Thane, and Kolhapur. Currently, 52 patients are undergoing treatment for mild symptoms, while 16 are being treated at hospitals.

“A spike in Covid-19 cases is not only being seen in Maharashtra, but also in other states and even other countries,” said the health department release.

“Covid is a disease caused by a virus. Currently, the ILI (Influenza-like Illness) and SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection) survey is going on in Maharashtra for Covid. In that survey, such patients are tested for Covid. These Covid patients are being treated regularly after testing positive, Covid cases are currently rare in the state. Mild symptoms are being found in Covid patients. Covid testing and treatment facilities are available through the health department. Therefore, the public is urged not to panic,” said the release.

Earlier, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday said, “Covid-19 is now considered an endemic and an ongoing health problem. As the virus has become established at the community level, cases are now sporadic and very rare.

In recent days, the number of Covid cases has been increasing in Singapore, Hong Kong, East Asia and other countries. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s health department is constantly monitoring the spread of Covid to keep it under control. “The number of patients has been very low from January to April. Some patients have been seen since May; however, the BMC administration is appealing to the citizens not to panic in this regard,” said the release.

According to BMC, treatment and guidance facilities are available in the civic hospitals, including Seven Hills Hospital with 20 beds (MICU), 20 beds for children and pregnant women and 60 general beds. Also, Kasturba Hospital has 2 intensive care (ICU) beds and a special ward of 10 beds with a provision to increase the capacity immediately.

“Common symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, cough (dry or with phlegm), sore or achy throat, fatigue, body aches, and headache. Symptoms may also include a runny nose and a loss of taste or smell. These symptoms can often be similar to those of a common cold and can vary from person to person. In severe cases, difficulty in breathing is a major warning sign,” said the BMC advisory.

The BMC further said that Covid-19 can be prevented by taking proper precautions. Especially patients with serious illnesses and low immunity, e.g., cancer, the elderly, diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver disease, should take proper precautions. BMC has urged the citizens to consult a municipal clinic, hospital, or family doctor if they find symptoms like fever, cough (dry or with phlegm), sore or achy throat, fatigue, body aches, and headache.

The Corporation has also appealed to the citizens to wear a mask in public if found with symptoms, keep a distance from others, wash hands frequently with soap and water and follow a proper diet and take rest.

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