Latest news with #SachinDeshmukh
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Funds for everything, not law & order, says HC on vacant police posts
Nagpur: In scathing oral remarks, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Wednesday criticised the Maharashtra govt for failing to prioritise law and order despite claiming to have funds for nearly every other administrative function. "You have money for everything — but not for maintaining law and order?" the bench asked pointedly, expressing strong displeasure over the state's inaction on filling hundreds of vacant police posts in Nagpur. The bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh was hearing a suo motu PIL (No. 1/2020) concerning road accidents in Nagpur linked to potholes, poor urban infrastructure, and mismanaged traffic systems. During previous hearings, the court directed the state to address manpower shortages that are affecting traffic and public safety. A November 27, 2024, order specifically instructed the home department to fill 447 vacant posts in Nagpur city police and 391 in the rural police force within four weeks. The state home department cited procedural hurdles and claimed that recruitment criteria were framed based on a Government Resolution (GR) issued on August 22, 2023, without clearance from the finance department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giá vàng đang tăng mạnh trong năm 2025 — Các nhà giao dịch thông minh đã tham gia IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The court rejected the explanation outright. "If there is funding for all departments, why not for law and order? Is maintaining public safety not a constitutional responsibility?" the judges asked. The court also questioned why recruitment to critical posts still required finance department approval, despite judicial directives. "Do you intend to run the state with this depleted strength of police?" the bench asked, remarking that the departments seemed to be functioning in silos without proper coordination. Amicus curiae Raheel Mirza, govt pleader and senior counsel Devendra Chauhan and AGP Deepak Thakre represented both parties in court. The court noted that the existing GR only accounted for creating additional police posts for newly-established police stations, not for filling existing vacancies. It observed that the criteria for recruitment were outdated. Issuing further directives, the bench ordered the state to formulate a revised policy within three months to fill both vacant and additional posts in Nagpur and across Maharashtra. The home department has also been asked to submit a detailed affidavit outlining steps taken to recruit personnel and explain why finance department approvals continue to be mandatory in such matters. The PIL has now widened its scope to address systemic administrative failures in ensuring basic civic safety and governance.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC chides govt over 7-yr Amravati flyover delay
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday lambasted the Maharashtra public works department (PWD) for an "unjustifiable" seven-year delay in completing Chitra Chowk–Nagpur Gate flyover in Amravati. Taking serious note of the issue, a division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh summoned Amravati's PWD chief engineer to appear in person along with complete records related to the project at 2.30pm on Thursday. A court was hearing a PIL (No. 47 of 2025) filed by Sunil Deshmukh, a doctor and former Amravati guardian minister, highlighting the inconvenience caused to citizens due to the incomplete flyover. The Rs60 crore project was sanctioned on March 10, 2016, and the original completion deadline was set for January 3, 2020, but the work remains incomplete. In response to the PIL, an affidavit was submitted by a sub-divisional engineer — who was not even a party to the petition — instead of a senior officer. The court strongly objected to this, terming the affidavit as "unauthorised and evasive". "Instead of a responsible official, a junior engineer submitted an affidavit giving assurance that the project will be completed by February 2026. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo This only raises further doubts," the bench remarked. The HC also ordered the PWD secretary to file a fresh affidavit personally, clarifying the current status and revised schedule by the same deadline. The judges questioned why the state continued with the original contractor despite his failure to deliver the project. "When the contractor accepted the assignment, he was aware of the site's challenges and congestion. Yet, the authorities chose not to take any punitive action against him. We fail to understand what prompted such leniency," the court said. The reasons cited for the delay — Covid-19 and site congestion — were rejected by the bench as inadequate. The judges noted that the work only resumed after an earlier HC order and even then, progress was unsatisfactory. The judges, visibly irate over the lack of progress despite repeated court orders, called the delay "unjustified and shocking" and sharply criticised the state's handling of the Rs60 crore project. "You should have terminated this contract long ago. Don't make a mockery of the system by filing such vague affidavits," they orally said. They directed that the flyover be completed within three months and warned of consequences if the timeline is not adhered to. Key takeaways HC's order - The delay of over seven years in flyover completion was termed "shocking" and "unjustified" - Affidavit filed by a junior engineer was criticised as "unauthorised" and "evasive" - Questioned why the original contractor was not removed despite consistent underperformance - Covid and congestion cited as reasons but were dismissed as inadequate by the court - Chief engineer of PWD, Amravati, directed to appear in person with full records - Secretary of PWD ordered to file a fresh, properly authorised affidavit by 2.30pm on July 17 - Judges indicated continued monitoring of the project until completion
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC launches PIL over TOI report of 300 colleges sans any students, crores in salaries
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of a Times of India report highlighting that over 300 junior colleges in Maharashtra continue to receive govt salary grants despite having no enrolled students, terming it a 'shocking revelation' and a 'wastage of public money'. The division bench of justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh initiated a PIL based on the TOI report of July 12, which exposed how teaching and non-teaching staff at hundreds of such colleges continues to draw govt-funded salaries despite zero student admissions. "The news item speaks of 300 colleges in Maharashtra getting grants towards the salary of the staff, however, not a single student has taken admission," the bench noted in its order. "The aforesaid shocking revelation… not only speaks of the wastage of public money but also the mismanagement of the educational institutions by the managements." The court underscored that if institutions are failing to attract students, statutory remedies are already in place. "In such a situation, the staff can be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Maharashtra Employees of Private Schools (Conditions of Service) Regulation Act, 1981, the Secondary School Code, and the Right to Education Act, 2009," the bench observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Referring to the issue as one of admitted concern at the govt level, the judges sought a detailed account of the situation and remedial steps initiated by the state. "We need to have the entire information before the court and the remedial measures taken by the state govt," the order stated. Appointing advocate Rahul Ghuge as amicus curiae, the bench asked him to frame a formal petition within two weeks. Senior advocate and govt pleader Deven Chauhan was directed to assist the amicus in the matter. The case will now be heard next on August 4. The court's action comes amid growing concern over systemic inefficiencies in grant-in-aid institutions, where ghost admissions and inflated staff rosters have repeatedly drawn scrutiny from auditors.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Super speciality hospital to come up on NNSR land
Nagpur: The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) on Tuesday informed the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court that it has completed all procedures for allotting a public utility plot leased to Nagpur Nagrik Sahakari Rugnalaya (NNSR) to a charitable trust for establishing a multi and super speciality hospital. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It requested closure of the PIL that triggered judicial scrutiny of the allotment process. A division bench comprising Justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh then disposed of the plea while taking the affidavit on record. HC was hearing a suo motu PIL earlier filed by late Bhalchandra Subhedar, one of the founding members of the Nagpur Civic Cooperative Hospital Society, through counsel Akshay Sudame. It sought the reopening of NNSR, which remained closed since 2010, with emphasis on developing organ transplant services for the region. Sangita Jachak pleaded for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). NIT stated that Maharashtra govt, through a July 14 resolution, granted final approval to allot a plot at Mouza Lendra, measuring 62,888 sqft on North Ambazari Road to Dr Aabaji Thatte Seva Aur Anusandhan Sanstha. The trust, which also runs the National Cancer Institute (NCI), was declared the highest bidder in a public tender process and scored 95.10/100 in a quality and cost-based evaluation. The plot, meant for a charitable hospital project, had a base premium of Rs10.63 crore, but the winning trust quoted Rs11 crore. The govt earlier relaxed the standard 50% premium requirement to 25% of the ready reckoner rate under Rule 26 of the NIT Land Disposal Rules, 1983. NIT executive officer Rasika Kawade, who submitted the affidavit through counsel Girish Kunte, said following the court's directives, the NIT board passed a resolution on May 14 to proceed with the allotment based on recommendations from an expert committee constituted by the court. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "All procedural requirements as per Rule 5 and Rule 20 of the NIT Land Disposal Rules have been duly complied with. Only the final step of lease execution and handing over possession remains," she stated. The tender was published on June 7 in local dailies and online portals. Two charitable institutions — Thatte trust and Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education & Research — submitted bids. A joint tender committee comprising state nominees, NIT officials, and members from the court-appointed expert panel shortlisted Thatte trust after technical and financial evaluation. On June 25, NIT submitted the final proposal to the state govt. The govt cleared the file on July 14, directing NIT to recover the quoted amount and incidental charges and report back to the court before issuing the lease. The NIT now seeks the court's permission to proceed with the final allotment and close the PIL, which was initiated following concerns raised by original petitioner Dr Subhedar over the legality and transparency of past land disposals involving public plots.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
PIL challenges state's move on tiger corridors in Vidarbha
Nagpur: A PIL was filed before the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court recently to challenge the Maharashtra State Wildlife Board's (SWLB) April 17 decision to grant permission for non-forest activities in tiger corridors in Vidarbha. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The petition alleges the decision was made without consulting national authorities and based solely on outdated data, potentially endangering tiger habitats not just in Maharashtra but also in adjoining states. A division bench of justices Nitin Sambre and Sachin Deshmukh heard preliminary arguments on Wednesday and issued notices to the State Wildlife Board, principal chief conservator of forests, additional chief secretary (forests), National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), directing them to file replies within five weeks. Environmentalits Sheetal Kolhe and Udayan Patil, the petitioners, argued that the decision relied only on maps from a 2014 report titled 'Connecting Tiger Populations for Long-Term Conservation' and the Decision Support System (DSS) of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), ignoring newer scientific studies and mandatory guidelines. According to the plea filed through counsel Nikhil Padhye, the SWLB overlooked NTCA's February 7, 2023 directive, which identified six officially recognised data sources to define tiger corridors. The petition notes that these were not consulted during the board's 24th meeting, which finalised the corridor using just one report and DSS inputs. "This arbitrary decision bypasses inputs from both, NTCA and NBWL, whose roles are central to national-level tiger conservation planning," the petition states. It further claims that the board's decision may adversely impact wildlife connectivity across multiple states, including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Telangana, and Karnataka. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It warns that unilateral demarcation of corridors could disrupt tiger migration, breeding patterns, biodiversity, and long-term ecosystem integrity. Calling the decision a case of overreach, the PIL argues that the SWLB acted outside its jurisdiction by bypassing the NTCA and NBWL. It has sought the quashing of the April 17 resolution and urged the court to direct the state govt to follow NTCA's February 2023 guidelines before finalising any tiger corridor.
