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Maharashtra Govt Promises Crackdown On Panchayats For Granting Illegal Permissions To Erect Giant Hoardings

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Mumbai: The government informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it will act against gram panchayats granting “illegal” permissions for erecting giant hoardings.

A government resolution (GR) issued on November 26 by the Rural Development Department directed all gram panchayats to refrain from granting such permissions, warning of action against violations. The GR, issued following a directive from the High Court in August, emphasises that under the Gram Panchayat Act, 1959, gram panchayats lack authority to grant permissions or issue no-objection certificates for advertising hoardings within their jurisdiction.

The resolution mandates the immediate removal of unauthorised hoardings and calls for strict adherence to these instructions. “Action will be taken against those involved in illegal activities as per the provisions of the prevailing law. All Gram Panchayats in the state should take immediate action to remove unauthorized advertisement boards/hoardings within their limits. Everyone should strictly follow these instructions,” the GR read.

Additional government pleader Savina Crasto submitted an affidavit before a bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata, along with a copy of the GR. Crasto said that as per the GR, action would be taken against those committing illegal acts.

Issue Of Illegal Giant Hoardings Gains Prominence

The issue of illegal giant hoardings gained prominence after the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) issued notices to hoarding owners in Navi Mumbai, asking them to remove unauthorised billboards following the collapse of a giant hoarding in Ghatkopar in May. The collapse, caused by heavy rains and winds, resulted in 17 deaths and over 70 injuries.

The tragedy prompted agencies, including the BMC, to conduct surveys and crack down on illegal giant hoardings. Subsequently, hoarding owners and advertising agencies challenged notices issued by MSRDC and CIDCO in the high court, claiming they had permissions from gram panchayats. However, the court refused relief, allowing planning authorities to demolish illegal hoardings when owners failed to remove them voluntarily. On May 30, the agencies had agreed to dismantle the hoardings by the end of August.

Maharashtra

Vande Mataram is a must, some people are self-proclaimed patriots, Uddhav Thackeray

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Mumbai: Before the local body and BMC elections in Mumbai Maharashtra and in the context of vote theft, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray once again took a dig at the Election Commission while addressing a press conference and said that the Election Commission has tried to show that every house has 40 to 50 voters registered, therefore, it is necessary to verify the Election Commission list and to check the Election Commission list, centers will now be set up in Shiv Sena branches for correcting the Election Commission list. Uddhav Thackeray said that the youth who have completed the age of 18 should get their names registered with the Election Commission. He said that an investigation should be conducted in every house to see if anyone’s name is listed in the Election Commission list without permission. Uddhav Thackeray called the Election Commission list itself suspect and said that there has been rigging and irregularities in the voter list, therefore the opposition is protesting against the issue of vote theft. Uddhav Thackeray made Vande Mataram mandatory. Criticizing the BJP for declaring it as a state, he said that people are being misled to divert their minds from the issues and such issues are being brought up. These people are actually self-proclaimed patriots and we need to be careful with them. He said that people should remain vigilant and try to correct the errors in the voter list.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Shortlists Seven Senior IPS Officers for Next DGP Post

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By Kamar Ansari | Mumbai Press News

Mumbai: Maharashtra is set for a major leadership change in its police force, as the tenure of the current Director General of Police, Rashmi Shukla, ends on December 31. In preparation for the transition, the state Home Department has shortlisted seven senior IPS officers and sent the names to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for approval. The UPSC will select three names from the list, after which the state government will appoint one of them as the next DGP.

According to officials familiar with the development, the shortlisted names include officers from various key security and policing verticals in the state.

The officers shortlisted are:
Sadanand Date, Director General of the National Investigation Agency;
Sanjay Verma, DGP Legal and Technical;
Ritesh Kumar, Commandant General of Home Guards;
Sanjeev Kumar Singhal, DGP Anti-Corruption Bureau;
Archana Tyagi, Director General of the State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation;
Sanjeev Kumar, Director of Civil Defence;
Prashant Burde, DG Government Railway Police.

Among them, Sadanand Date is considered the senior-most officer and a strong contender for the role. He is due to retire in December 2026, making him eligible for a full two-year term if appointed. Date is highly respected for his service record, including his heroic actions during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks where he confronted terrorists with limited resources and prevented heavy civilian casualties.

However, his appointment depends on the central government’s approval since he is currently serving as the chief of NIA. Sources indicate that the state government has not yet formally requested his release from the central posting, which may become a factor in the final decision.

The appointment process will move forward once the UPSC finalizes three names for the government to choose from. The state is expected to announce the next DGP before Rashmi Shukla’s retirement to ensure seamless policing leadership.

Rashmi Shukla, who has led the Maharashtra Police during an eventful tenure, will retire on December 31, bringing an end to a long and distinguished service career.

Mumbai Press News Kamar Ansari will continue to follow the developments closely and bring timely updates on the selection of Maharashtra’s next top police officer.

By Kamar Ansari
Mumbai Press News

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Maharashtra

Ameer Sunni Dawat-e-Islami Maulana Mohammad. Shakir Noori is once again included in the list of the 500 most influential Muslims of the year 2026.

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Mumbai: November 1 – Maulana Muhammad Shakir Noori, Ameer of Sunni Dawat-e-Islami, who has played a prominent role in the fields of education, social and welfare services, and religious and religious leadership, and under whose management the annual gathering held at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, is one of the largest Sunni gatherings in the world, has been included in the list of 500 most influential Muslims in the world. This list consists of those personalities who are playing a prominent role in the Muslim world with a spirit of positive change, leadership, influence and service. This list is compiled under the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center, Oman (Jordan) and is published every year in collaboration with the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University (USA). In a statement issued on Friday, Sunni Dawat-e-Islami said that Maulana Noori’s tireless efforts in promoting educational and social services and welfare works have earned him this honor at the global level.

The statement said that Maulana Shakir Noori, who leads one of India’s largest Sunni organizations, has impacted thousands of lives through education, women’s empowerment, youth guidance and anti-drug campaigns. This award is not only a recognition of Maulana Noori’s services but also reflects the positive and constructive identity of Indian Muslims at the global level. Sunni Dawat-e-Islami is a non-political religious organization headquartered in Mumbai. Every year around December, this organization organizes a three-day grand gathering that includes religious speeches, speeches on contemporary issues, and educational guidance for students.

About three hundred thousand people participate in this gathering annually. About 50 educational institutions are established under the organization, in which more than 7,000 students are studying. Maulana Noori has authored more than 40 books that have been published in different languages. He has started several welfare projects, including empowering Muslim youth and women through education, providing food and clothing to the poor, guiding the weaker sections, reforming the youth, and campaigns against drugs and intoxicants. On this joyful occasion, congratulations are being offered by scholars, preachers, and concerned people, and Hazrat Ameer Sunni Dawat-e-Islami is praying for his health and long life.

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