Page 7 - Maharashtra Government

HC frowns on copy-paste witness statements, calls it risky for prosecution

Taking notice of the "dangerous culture" of investigating officers copy-pasting witness statements even while filing charge sheets in serious offences, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to issue necessary guidelines. Hearing a petition in a criminal matter, the bench noted that the statements of witnesses reproduced in the charge sheet were so similar that even "the paragraphs start with the same words and end with the same words". If the police were cutting corners in this way even in serious cases, it was not a good sign for the criminal justice system, said Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Sanjay Deshmukh of the Aurangabad bench in a recent order. "It is high time to take cognizance of the issue suo motu (on its own) and to consider, as to what are those shortcomings or difficulties for the investigating officer/ officers when they record such copy-paste statements," the court said. The bench asked the state government to come out with specific guidelines .

Maharashtra may deny fuel to unfit vehicles to curb air pollution: Minister

The Maharashtra government is considering a policy to deny fuel at petrol pumps to unfit vehicles that contribute to air pollution, state Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday. During a review meeting with senior officials of the Motor Vehicles Department at Mantralaya, Sarnaik said a stringent policy in this regard will be in place soon. With the increase in the number of vehicles on roads, especially those running on conventional fuel, air pollution has risen at an alarming rate, he said in a release. Though every vehicle is required to possess a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, there are reports of fake or improperly obtained certificates, the minister said. "Only vehicles with valid certificates will be allowed to refuel. 'No PUC, no fuel' will be the guiding principle of the new policy," he said. Sarnaik also pointed out that technically unfit vehicles were responsible for the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in urban areas, and to address thi

12 of 48 departments score 100% in Maharashtra govt's 100-day report card

A dozen of the 48 Maharashtra Government departments have scored a perfect 100 in their 100-day report card, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Thursday. Fadnavis, after taking charge as chief minister in December last year, had set a 100-day programme for each department, setting ambitious targets. As many as 18 other departments have achieved more than 80 per cent of their targets in the 100-day period, Fadnavis said on X. Ten departments have achieved between 60 and 79 per cent of their targets, while eight departments have recorded below 60 per cent target achievement, he said. The departments with 100 per cent target completion include water resources, home, rural development, animal husbandry, ports, higher and technical education, labour, textiles, cultural affairs, mining, dairy development and employment guarantee scheme.

Maharashtra leads in growth and governance; Gujarat and Karnataka follows

Gujarat topped the economic chart of the country, driven by strong performance in per capita Gross State Domestic Product, Foreign Direct Investment (% of GSDP) and Gross Fixed Capital Formation

Maharashtra Day 2025: Mumbai Police issues traffic advisory for May 1

Mumbai traffic police shared a road advisory for Maharashtra Day parade at Shivaji Park on May 1. Traffic rules will be effective from 6:00 am on the no-parking zones, road closures, and diversions

Shifting political equations: The new normal in Maharashtra's power play

Recent bonhomie among the Thackeray cousins, Pawar clan engagements, amid purported friction between Fadnavis and Shinde, could shape the contours of local body polls, writes ADITI PHADNIS

Primacy to Marathi, no imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed concerns over the "imposition" of the Hindi language in the state on Sunday, asserting that Marathi will continue to be compulsory. The opposition parties, particularly Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS, have alleged that Hindi is being imposed in Maharashtra after the state government gave its nod to implement the three-language formula under the NEP. "It is wrong to say that attempts are being made to impose Hindi. Marathi will be compulsory in Maharashtra. There will be no other compulsion," Fadnavis told reporters after attending a programme organised at the Bhandarkar Research Institute in Pune. Responding to the row over the government's approval to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools, Fadnavis said, "We need to understand that Hindi has not been made mandatory instead of Marathi. The Marathi language is a must". He said the New Education Policy states that two of the three languages to be taught to students must

Govt committed to making Marathwada drought-free, says CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the state government was committed to making Marathwada drought-free and was making efforts in that direction. Talking about the measures the government plans to take to alleviate water scarcity in the region, Fadnavis said at least 53 TMC water flowing into the sea will be brought to the Godavari River Basin, and excess water from the Krishna and Koyna rivers will be diverted. The government will issue tenders for these works, he said while speaking at an event in Beed district. The Marathwada region comprises Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dharashiv, Latur and Nanded districts. He said Marathwada's share from the Krishna River has been brought to Ashti city. Alluding to the murder of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the chief minister said while Beed has been in the news for the wrong reasons, the district has a long history of Warkari ideology and saints. He said despite facing ..

Gatherings banned near Pune hospital after protests over woman's death

Pune police have banned any gathering near the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, days after protests by political parties over the death of a pregnant woman disrupted traffic and caused inconvenience to patients, officials said on Wednesday. Tanisha Bhise, wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, was first allegedly refused admission at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, a charitable medical facility, over non-payment of a Rs 10 lakh deposit last month. Subsequently, she died at another facility after giving birth to twin daughters. Activists of major political parties staged a protest outside the hospital on April 4, demanding action against the doctors and staff allegedly responsible for the woman's death. The agitation caused inconvenience to patients and relatives, disrupted traffic and created hurdles for ambulances, as per the prohibitory order issued Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma on Tuesday. Citing this, Sharma issued the order under Section 163

MMRDA secures lines of credit worth Rs 4.07 trillion to develop MMR's infra

MMRDA is the Maharashtra government agency responsible for preparing a regional infrastructure development plan for the MMR

Bombay HC grants Kunal Kamra protection till April 17, seeks govt reply

Bombay High Court has granted comedian Kunal Kamra protection till April 17. The next hearing will take place on April 16

Woman's death row: Pune hospital scraps 'deposit policy' amid backlash

The Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Maharashtra's Pune city, under fire for allegedly turning away a pregnant woman over non-payment of Rs 10 lakh as advance for treatment, on Saturday announced it would no longer be taking deposits from patients at the emergency department. The woman, wife of the personal secretary of BJP MLC Amit Gorkhe, had to be shifted to another hospital where she died after delivering twins. The incident hit national headlines and evoked strong condemnation from leaders cutting across party lines as well as protests from citizens' groups. In an open letter, the hospital's medical director Dr Dhananjay Kelkar said, "In the early years of Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, we never took a deposit. But as the number of critical cases increased and the cost of complex treatments rose, the hospital began taking deposits in certain high-cost cases." "However, in light of yesterday's events, we have re-evaluated this practice and passed a resolution that the hospital .

Maharashtra departments told to specify potential rise in expenditures

Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik has issued a directive to all departments mandating that any new proposals presented to the state cabinet must clearly outline the potential increase in expenditure beyond their allocated budget. The directive, issued on Friday, comes amid signs of the state's financial constraints. It has called for transparency in identifying the potential increases in expenditure for any new proposal, thus holding departments accountable for their financial commitments. The directive stresses that no proposals should be submitted to the cabinet without specifying how much the department's expenditure may exceed its original allocation. To rein in the unnecessary spending, departments have also been instructed to limit unproductive expenditure, consolidate redundant government schemes, and curb free-of-cost services wherever possible, an official said. The directive encourages reducing non-productive spending, merging redundant schemes and focusing on ..

Maharashtra budget to boost real estate with infra focus: CREDAI-MCHI

Realtors' body CREDAI-MCHI has said the Maharashtra government's budget will give a significant boost to real estate sector because of huge allocation for infrastructure development and focus on affordable housing. CREDAI-MCHI, which is part of CREDAI, represents real estate developers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). On March 10, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, tabled the state budget in the legislative assembly and announced a new industrial policy, focussing on Rs 40 lakh crore investment and generation of 50 lakh jobs. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region is being developed as a growth hub, and it will have a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2047, Pawar said as he announced a third airport in the metropolis near the Vadhvan port in the neighbouring Palghar district. CREDAI-MCHI President Domnic Romell said, "The Maharashtra state budget lays a strong foundation for economic growth through strategic investments in infrastructure and ..

Disha Salian case: NCP-SCP leader alleges govt using SSR's name for polls

Rohit Pawar further claimed that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is only looking to "tarnish" Aaditya Thackeray's image and diverting from the real issues which are in Maharashtra

Nagpur violence: Muslim leaders seek impartial probe, urge CM to meet reps

Members of the Muslim community in Nagpur have condemned the violence in Vidarbha's largest city earlier this week and sought an impartial probe into it, claiming that timely action by police could have prevented it. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, they said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should meet representatives of both communities in a bid to establish peace. Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Nagpur on Monday evening after rumours began circulating about a chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. Efforts are being made to provoke the Muslim community through various means in the last two to three years. A minister has been continuously raising the topic of Aurangzeb. The Muslim community has no connection to Aurangzeb and has remained calm, Dr Mohammad Awes Hasan said at the press conference. He alleged that right-wing .

69 held in Nagpur violence; police looking for mastermind: Minister Kadam

Police have so far arrested 69 people in connection with the Nagpur violence, officials said on Wednesday evening with Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam asserting that attacks on police personnel will be dealt with sternly. The Minister of State for Home told reporters that the strictest action would be taken against the perpetrators of violence, and the fear of the law would be instilled. While he put the number of arrests at 54, a senior official later said a total of 69 persons have been arrested, including eight Vishwa Hindu Parishad workers. Kadam said that rioters dared to attack police personnel. "We will show what is meant by fear of the police. They will not be spared," he added. He said the government would ensure that the police morale is not affected, adding that instructions have been given to take the strictest action. "Police are looking for the mastermind behind the violence," Kadam said and warned of action against those circulating misleading videos on social ...

Nagpur violence: 19 accused sent to police custody, curfew in several areas

So far, around 50 people have been arrested for stone-pelting and arson in the city

Nagpur violence: Curfew imposed after protest over Aurangzeb's grave

The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar

Maharashtra farmer suicides worrying, govt needs a policy solution: Pawar

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday expressed concerns about farmer suicides in Marathwada and Vidarbha and said the Centre should come up with a policy to help cultivators. Pawar's statement comes in the backdrop of the data released by the state relief and rehabilitation department that revealed that 2,635 farmers died by suicide in Maharashtra in 2024. "The information which has come from Marathwada and Vidarbha is worrying. We will collect accurate data from different locations. The Centre should prepare a policy to help farmers," he told reporters in Baramati. On speculations about NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil crossing over to the Ajit Pawar-led party faction, the senior politician said Patil had already given his statement to the media. Patil, the state president of NCP (SP), had earlier said nothing about him was certain, sparking the buzz that he could quit the party. On Friday, Patil met the NCP (SP) chief at an event in Baramati and later said he was not upset an