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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 Beramji was installed as Administrator, the remaining members of the council were effectively superseded, leaving the regulatory body without its mandated collective structure, and over 6500-members directionless.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.

Legacy Reclaimed

India’s men’s hockey team delivered a stirring performance at the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, asserting its dominance in the continent and rekindling hope for a sport that once stood as the nation’s pride. The victory comes as a relief and was a necessary restoration of confidence following a dismal European campaign in the Pro League 2024-25, where India lost seven matches in a row.


The Asia Cup was approached with a clear objective of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. By the tournament’s close, not only had India punched its ticket to the global stage, but it also reclaimed the Asian crown with authority. After sluggish performances in the first two games, barely edging past China and Japan thanks to Harmanpreet Singh’s drag-flicking prowess, the Indian team hit its stride. The turning point came against Kazakhstan, whose 15–0 thrashing laid bare India’s attacking firepower and boosted team morale. The final, in which Dilpreet Singh’s brace sealed India’s fourth Asia Cup title, was a symbolic moment.


India’s resurgence was powered by more than just individual brilliance. Several players like Rajinder Singh, ShilanandLakra, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Suraj Karkera have emerged as the sport’s next generation, positioning themselves as cornerstones for the new Olympic cycle. Captain Harmanpreet Singh has reinvented his role from defensive lynchpin to a field general, orchestrating play with long aerial passes and dictating tempo. Right-back Jarmanpreet Singh contributed unexpectedly as an attacking spark, his overlapping runs and incisive touches unlocking defences with ease.


The statistics underline the dominance. India scored 39 goals, the highest by any team in the tournament. Yet, the achievement is not without caveats. The gulf in class between India and its Asian rivals remained conspicuous. China, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan showed flashes of competence but failed to match India’s fluency and cohesion. Rajgir itself played a surprisingly apt host. An ancient town renowned for its Buddhist heritage, it became a contemporary sporting crucible. The Rajgir Sports Complex Hockey Stadium doubled as a competitive arena and a developmental hub. Young academy players, seated close to the action, mingled with stars post-final, underscoring the event’s broader role in promoting hockey’s grassroots revival. However, the venue’s limited 4,000–5,000 seating capacity was clearly inadequate. Thousands of spectators braved the heat and cramped conditions, a testament to the sport’s latent popularity.


However, Indian hockey infrastructure remains patchy outside traditional centres. The financial ecosystem around hockey lags far behind cricket. For hockey to truly transition into sustained global relevance for India, institutional investment is indispensable from both governmental and corporate sponsors. Without such backing, the current crop of talent risks being wasted. Nevertheless, the future looks promising. The Asia Cup title heralds the dawn of a renewed era. With a young, hungry squad, strategic leadership and growing public interest, Indian hockey is poised not just to survive but to thrive. Its golden days may well be back.

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