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Maharashtra

Thane Court Rejects Central Railway’s Plea To Ban Shoeshine Workers At Thane, Mumbra Stations, Cites Livelihood Concerns

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Thane: The Principal District Judge of the Thane court has rejected the appeal filed by the Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM) of Central Railway, which sought to prevent nine shoeshine boys from working at Thane and Mumbra railway stations. This appeal was filed in the absence of any shoeshine societies successfully securing tenders for performing shoe polishing on railway platforms.

The court held that since the livelihoods of the shoeshine boys depend on this work, it would not interfere with the trial court’s order. However, it granted the railways the option of approaching the trial court for a modification of the order if a new tender is floated and approved.

Principal District Judge S.B. Agarwal, in a six-page order, stated: “No doubt, the arrangement (of allowing nine shoeshine boys to work on the railway platform without any tender) was temporary in nature until the tender was issued and granted. As per the order of 2007, these nine were permitted to work. The trial court observed that the tender awarded to Bhima Shoeshine was rejected and that no new tender had been invited by the railways. The situation remains unchanged to this day. In view of this, a strong prima facie case for continuation is clearly made out since the livelihood of the plaintiffs is involved, and no interference is warranted in the impugned order.”

However, the court granted the railways the liberty to approach the trial court for a modification of the order as and when a fresh tender is allotted, regarding the continuation of the nine shoeshine boys working without tenders.

These shoeshine boys, who are the plaintiffs in this case, had filed the suit arguing that they had been carrying out shoe polishing and repair work at Thane and Mumbra railway stations for 20 years with railway permission.

However, by way of a letter dated November 1, 2023, they were directed to surrender their ID cards and badges, despite having paid their license fees. This development occurred after the railways invited tenders in 2023.

However, the societies that submitted tenders failed to comply with the required terms—including Bhima Shoeshine, which had initially been selected but later failed to meet the criteria. A few of the nine shoeshine boys were members of Bhima shoeshine society, and hence Bhima shoeshine society is also one among the plaintiffs who has been fighting against the mighty railways.

In these circumstances, the railways filed a suit along with an application for a temporary injunction. The railways, i.e., the appellant-defendant in the suit, contended that tenders were invited through a press notification dated October 21, 2001, and were awarded to M/s. Shramik Leather Equipment and Handgloves Industrial Co-op. Society Ltd. for three years. The contract was later extended but eventually canceled in 2007.

Subsequently, M/s. Magasvargiya Boot Polish Workers Society was given the option to operate at Thane and Mumbra until a new tender was finalized. This arrangement included some of the plaintiffs who had previously worked with M/s. Shramik Leather Equipment and Handgloves Industrial Co-op. Society Ltd., allowing them to continue their work at the railway stations. However, this was always subject to the finalization of a tender and was considered a temporary arrangement.

Umesh Dularchand Ram, president of Bhima Shoeshine Workers Co-operative Society, while speaking on the matter, said, “I was the one who secured the tender and immediately deposited ₹15 lakh with the railway office in 2023. Now, the railways have canceled my tender, claiming it failed to meet some criteria, while these nine men are allowed to work in the absence of any tenders. In such a situation, where do I go to get my deposited money back?”

A new policy was framed on February 27, 2018, and further tenders were invited. However, these tenders were later canceled as Bhima Shoeshine did not have the required workers. On a second occasion, the tender was again awarded to Bhima Shoeshine Society, but the temporary arrangement was discontinued. As a result, the railways sought the rejection of the temporary arrangement for the ten shoeshine workers.

Maharashtra

‘Our Dreams Are Not A Joke’: Students Flood Social Media As SSC Exam Glitches Trigger Nationwide Outrage

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A storm of protests has erupted online as thousands of SSC aspirants take to social media platforms to voice their frustration under hashtags like #SSCVendorFailure, #SSCMisManagement, and #SSCReform. The uproar follows a series of technical glitches, infrastructure issues, and exam cancellations linked to the new vendor responsible for conducting SSC recruitment exams.

What began as scattered complaints has snowballed into a coordinated digital movement, with aspirants flooding X (formerly Twitter) with testimonies of botched exam experiences, inaccessible centers, and last-minute cancellations. Several students are demanding accountability from the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the removal of the current vendor.

Students are alleging that the system crashes during exams, experiences technical glitches, centres 500-1000 km away and has last-minute cancellations. Students are now demanding a thorough investigation, transparent communication, and urgent reforms to restore faith in the SSC recruitment system. The controversy follows widespread technical issues during the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 exams, leaving thousands in distress.

SSC Selection Post Phase 13 Exams Cancelled at Select Centres Due to Technical Issues

The SSC has cancelled the Selection Post Phase 13 exams at specific centres due to technical and administrative problems. The exams, which began on July 24 and are scheduled to continue until August 1, faced disruptions on the first day.

As per the official notice, exams held at Pawan Ganga Educational Centre 2 between July 24 and July 26 have been cancelled for administrative reasons. Affected candidates will now appear for the rescheduled exams starting July 28, with revised details to be shared shortly. Additionally, the first shift at Educasa International, Hubbali, scheduled on July 24 (9:30 AM to 10:30 AM), was cancelled due to a technical glitch.

Netizens’ Reactions

Amid widespread disruptions in the SSC Selection Post Phase 13 exams, students across India have taken to social media to express their frustration, calling out technical failures, poor management, and lack of transparency.

“Dear SSC, our dreams are not a joke!” wrote one aspirant. “Technical failures, paper leaks, and vendor mismanagement are destroying years of our hard work. We deserve justice and transparency.”

Another user questioned the outsourcing of such a critical process to private firms: “We’ve repeatedly said that instead of outsourcing the exams to private vendors, SSC should develop its own software and take full responsibility. The future of millions of youth should not be handed over to profit-driven companies.”

Many candidates shared emotional accounts of traveling long distances, only to face last-minute cancellations: “Is there no value for students’ efforts in this country? First, they gave us centers 500 km away, and then cancelled the exam. Is this some kind of joke?”

Another user said, “An exam isn’t just for one day — it’s years of preparation. Students traveled 500 km, and then were told the exam was cancelled. Why? Does anyone have an answer?”

Poor exam centre conditions were another major concern raised by aspirants: “We faced extreme discomfort — no fans, broken chairs, suffocating rooms, and image-based questions not loading. Is this what India’s competitive exams have come to? We demand accountability.”

A comprehensive list of recurring issues was also highlighted by students:

“SSC cannot ignore these issues any longer:

– Mouse not working

– Invigilators chatting

– Server crash & last-minute cancellations

– Centres 500-1000 km away

– No security checks

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Entertainment

Actress Ruchi Gujjar Hits Actor-Director With Chappal, Protests Against Him At Mumbai Theatre After Filing FIR Over ₹25 Lakh Fraud

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A dramatic scene unfolded at a Mumbai theatre during the screening of So Long Valley when actress Ruchi Gujjar hit the film’s producer and actor Man Singh with a chappal, leading to chaos at Cinepolis. The incident, captured in a now-viral video, came amid an ongoing financial dispute between Ruchi and another producer, Karan Singh Chauhan.

In the video, she is heard screaming while arguing with the producers. She then lost her cool and hit one of the producers with her chappal.

It appears that she arrived at the theatre with the intention of staging a protest. During the special screening, where the producers were present, Ruchi showed up along with a group of protestors. People around her were seen raising slogans against the producers.

They held placards with the producers’ photos, marked with red cross signs across their faces. In some of the posters, which can be seen in the video, the producers were depicted sitting on donkeys.

What is the case?

According to Ruchi, Chauhan had approached her last year claiming he was producing a Hindi television serial that would soon air on Sony TV. “He offered to add me as a co-producer and also sent documents related to the project,” she said, according to media reports.

Believing the offer, Ruchi stated that between July 2023 and January 2024, she transferred several payments from her company, SR Event and Entertainment, into accounts linked to Chauhan’s K Studios. However, the promised project never took off.

“Despite repeated contacts, he kept postponing them and lied,” she added in her complaint.

She claims to have discovered that the funds were allegedly used not for the serial, but for the production of So Long Valley. “When I got the information that the film is releasing on July 27, I told him to return my money now, on which he started threatening me,” she alleged.

Mumbai Police has registered an FIR under sections 318(4), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Chauhan, 36, for allegedly cheating actress Ruchiof Rs 25 lakh.

Ruchi has submitted banking records and documents to support her claims. An investigation into the financial transactions and communications is currently underway.

Notably, Ruchi had earlier drawn attention for her Cannes appearance, where she wore a necklace featuring an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai 26 July 2005 Floods: When City Was Submerged With 944 mm Of Rain In 24 Hours Leaving 914 Dead, Thousands Displaced

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Every year, the monsoon season disrupts life across Indian cities with heavy rainfall, waterlogging and traffic chaos. But July 26, 2005, stands out as a day that etched itself into Mumbai’s history as one of its darkest and most devastating.

On that day, Mumbai received an unprecedented 944 mm of rain in just 24 hours, nearly half of its annual average. Between 8 am and 8 pm alone, 644 mm poured down. It remains the eighth-highest 24-hour rainfall ever recorded anywhere in the world. The city, unprepared for such intensity, was brought to a grinding halt.

Internet Flooded With Old Visuals, Still Haunting Mumbaikars

Several netizens took to social media to share haunting visuals from the 2005 Mumbai floods, recalling the day when the city came to a complete standstill. Many described it as an unforgettable chapter in Mumbai’s history, marked by chaos, resilience and unity.

While some reflected on the overwhelming scale of the disaster, others remembered how the crisis revealed the undying spirit of Mumbai, with strangers helping each other and communities coming together in the face of adversity.

Mumbai’s Lifeline Took Serious Hit, 52 Local Trains Damaged

As floodwaters rose, roads vanished beneath torrents of water. Local trains, the city’s lifeline, stopped completely, with tracks submerged and 52 trains damaged. Thousands were stranded in stations, schools and offices overnight. Low-lying areas like Dharavi and the Bandra-Kurla Complex were heavily inundated, while vehicles were swept away or immobilised.

The scale of disruption was staggering. Over 37,000 auto-rickshaws, 4,000 taxis, 900 BEST buses and 10,000 trucks and tempos were either damaged or rendered unusable. Even the skies were no refuge. For the first time ever, Mumbai’s airports shut down, with Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport and the Juhu airstrip closed for more than 30 hours. More than 700 flights were cancelled or delayed, creating nationwide ripples in air traffic.

Over 900 Killed, Property Worth ₹5.5 Billion Destroyed

The economic loss was estimated at Rs 5.5 billion (around 100 million USD). But the cost in human lives and suffering was far greater. According to official reports, 914 people lost their lives, many due to drowning, electrocution and landslides. More than 14,000 homes were destroyed, leaving thousands without shelter, food or drinking water.

Communication networks also failed. Around 5 million mobile users and 2.3 million landline connections went dead for several hours, hampering emergency rescue operations. Emergency services were overwhelmed, as the city grappled with a disaster it had never imagined.

The 2005 floods served as a harsh wake-up call, exposing Mumbai’s vulnerability to extreme weather. In the years since, the government has worked on improving disaster preparedness, such as creating specialised disaster management units, upgrading early warning systems and installing floodgates and dewatering pumps at critical points.

Yet, even two decades later, as visuals from 2005 resurface each year, a haunting question persists: Is Mumbai truly prepared to face another flood of that magnitude?

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