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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture....

Plea in HC for fresh polls, new body

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : A senior medical practitioner has knocked on the doors of the Bombay High Court, alleging serious irregularities in the functioning of the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) and challenging the continuation of its current Administrator.   In a petition filed through Advocate Sharad V. Natu, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant has termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman as “illegal and arbitrary,”  and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture.   Dr. Beramji, who headed the five-member statutory body 's inaugural term (from May 2018 to May 2023), was subsequently appointed as its Administrator after the council’s term expired.   According to Dr. Sawant’s plea, the Administrator’s appointment was initially meant to be a stop-gap arrangement for one year, and it was ‘extended’ later. However, nearly three years later, the position continues without fresh elections being conducted, raising questions over adherence to statutory norms and principles of governance.   Dr. Sawant has further contended that while Dr. Beramji was installed as Administrator, the remaining members of the council were effectively superseded, leaving the regulatory body without its mandated collective structure, and over 6500-members directionless.   The petition claims that the delay in conducting elections was justified on the grounds of an incomplete voter list, but this reason was flimsy considering the extended time lapse.   The petition, likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday (April 21), also levelled serious allegations regarding the manner in which the MCA has been run under the Administrator. It claims decisions have been taken unilaterally, whimsically and without transparency or institutional accountability.   Besides, Dr. Sawant has made allegations of selective targeting of certain members who have attempted to raise valid issues, including the globally-renowned noted acupuncture expert Dr. P. B. Lohiya of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.   Adding to the controversy, a former MCA office-bearer has claimed that over the past three years, approvals were granted to more than a dozen acupuncture colleges in undue haste, purportedly in violation of prescribed norms and alleged shady deals.   These institutions, it is claimed, either exist only on paper or lack essential infrastructure, faculty, and facilities. In addition, around two dozen Continuous Acupuncture Education (CAE) centres were also cleared during this period.   In his multiple prayers to the high court, Dr. Sawant has sought quashing Dr. Beramji’s appointment as MCA Administrator and setting aside all policy decisions taken during his tenure in that capacity in the last three years.   The petition also urged the court to direct the state government to conduct elections to elect and reconstitute a new five-member MCA within two months.   Pending this, the plea seeks an order restraining the Administrator from continuing in office or interfering in the functioning of the MCA or the CAEs in the interest of free and fair elections or the cause of Acupuncture.   Sources within the MCA have described the situation as “deeply concerning,” alleging that individuals of international standing, such as Dr. Lohiya - who has treated prominent personalities like Sachin Tendulkar, the late Manoj Kumar, state and central ministers and other public figures - are being unfairly hounded.   The petition has called for a comprehensive review of all decisions taken during the Administrator’s tenure, a financial audit of the MCA’s financial affairs, and an independent probe by the Medical Education & Drugs Department (MEDD) into the approvals granted to the institutions in recent years.   Despite repeated attempts by  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ , top MCA officials like the Administrator or the Registrar Narayan Nawale, were not available for their comments.

A New Arrival in Mumbai’s Cricket Horizon

Ayush Mhatre

A new wonder kid has arrived on Mumbai’s cricket scene. He is 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre, a resident of Virar, 46 km from Mumbai.


The hard working and dedicated Ayush leaves his home at 4.15 am to catch 5 am local from Virar to reach the grounds in Mumbai where cricket matches and camps are run by numerous coaches. The wide network of Maidans is the real source of Mumbai’s cricket. From Vijay Merchant (Bharda High School, CST), Sunil Gavaskar (St. Xaviers), Dilip Vengsarkar (King George, Dadar), Sandeep Patil (Balmohan), Sachin Tendulkar (Shardashram) are all products of school cricket. Ayush Mhatre is a prodigious talent from IES V.N. Sule Guruji School, Dadar.


Mumbai is the nursery of Indian Cricket. Emerging talent specially batsmen are born and brought up from Mumbai. Vijay Merchant, Vijay Manjrekar, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma are a few examples.


Ayush scored 176 runs in his third first- class match and was chosen as Man of the Match. Sachin Koli, a coach at V.N. Sule Guruji School, has been instrumental in shaping the teenager’s cricket career. He impressed the authorities of Virar’s Sainath Sports Club, where he played with senior boys.


Ayush scored big runs in Mumbai U-16 age group tournaments. So he was elevated to U-19 age group. Coach Dinesh Lad is very impressed with Ayush’s batting. Maharashtra Ranji Trophy team coach Sulakshan Kulkarni also appreciated his batting. He is exceptional talent.


Sachin Koli spotted Ayush in inter-school match at Matunga Gymkhana. His parents wanted to change Ayush’s school. Koli immediately got Ayush admitted in Sule Guruji School. Tanush Kotian, an emerging all-rounder is also the product of Sule Guruji School which has given Mumbai players like Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhavin Thakkar, Vineet Indulkar and Sanjay Manjrekar.


Ayush batted well in the opening Ranji Trophy against Baroda scoring 52 and 22 runs. At BKC in the Maharashtra Derby clash against arch rivals Maharashtra he opened with Pruthvi Shaw. Pruthvi and Hardik Tamore got out early but Ayush put on big partnership with Shreyas Iyer who also scored a century. There was a stamp of authority in Ayush’s three consecutive fours of Rajvardhan Hangagrekar. Two beautiful backfoot drives and one through the mid-wicket.


Ayush relished spinners hitting sixers off Satyajit Bachhav and Hitesh Walunj. With Skipper Ajinkya Rahane Ayush added 99 runs for the third wicket which put Mumbai’s innings on sound footing.


At the age of 17, the Virar lad is learning to build innings, hallmark of a great batsman. Mumbai Ranji Trophy Selection Committee Chairman Sanjay Patil supported Ayush and he passed with flying colors. He was picked for KSCA Trophy where he scored 172 against Gujrat and clinched his place in the Senior team. Mushir Khan got injured and selectors gave Ayush an opportunity in the Irani Cup match and then in the 90-year-old Ranji Trophy. Ayush has grabbed he opportunity with both hands.


The selectors have dropped Pruthvi Shaw from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy team for the match against Tripura but Ayush Mhatre is going strong with his batting. He can score runs consistently and should play big knocks so he can be in the limelight at such a young age.

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