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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

HC orders fresh elections in three months

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai: In a jolt, the Bombay High Court has directed the state government to hold elections to the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) - which is managed by an Administrator for past three years – within three months, here on Friday. A division bench of the Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench) comprising Justice Ajit Kadethankar and Justice Vibha Kankanwadi were disposing off a petition filed a senior medical practitioner, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant through his...

HC orders fresh elections in three months

Dr. Rumi F. Beramji Mumbai : In a jolt, the Bombay High Court has directed the state government to hold elections to the Maharashtra Council of Acupuncture (MCA) - which is managed by an Administrator for past three years – within three months, here on Friday.   A division bench of the Bombay High Court (Aurangabad Bench) comprising Justice Ajit Kadethankar and Justice Vibha Kankanwadi were disposing off a petition filed a senior medical practitioner, Dr. Laxman Bhimrao Sawant through his lawyer Sharad V. Natu, seeking different reliefs.   These included alleged serious irregularities in the functioning of the MCA and challenging the continuation of the Administrator for a prolonged period pending the elections. The matter was highlighted in detail by  ‘ The Perfect Voice’   on April 21.   Strong Observations In its order uploaded today, Justice Kadethankar and Justice Kankanwadi noted the petitioner’s contentions that the Administrator, Dr. Rumi F. Beramji was appointed for only one year, and that period is over.   “It should be the endeavour of the State to implement the various provisions of the Act, that is, the Maharashtra Acupuncture System of Therapy Act, 2015. Holding of elections and formation of the council as per Section 3 of the said Act should be adhered to by the State Government and it cannot be then postponed in infinity,” said the court.   Accordingly, Justice Kadethankar and Justice Kankanwadi directed the state government, through the Medical Education & Drugs Department (MEDD) to conduct the MCA elections within a period of three months.   Prolonged Tenure Among other things, the petitioner had termed the appointment and prolonged tenure of former MCA Chairman Dr. Rumi F. Beramji as “illegal and arbitrary,” and detrimental to the cause of Acupuncture.   Elected as the inaugural head (May 2018-May 2023) of the five-member statutory body, Dr. Beramji, was subsequently appointed its Administrator after the MCA’s term expired.   Adv. Natu pointed out that the Administrator’s appointment was intended to be a stop-gap arrangement for one year to facilitate the polls, but it was subsequently ‘extended’. However, nearly three years later, Dr. Beramji continued without fresh elections being conducted, raising questions over adherence to statutory norms and principles of governance.   Directionless Members Dr. Sawant 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.   He argued that the excuse cited for delay in conducting elections was ostensibly an incomplete voter list, but this reason was flimsy considering the extended time lapse.   The petition, which was heard and disposed of on April 22, also levelled serious allegations against the style of functioning of the MCA Administrator, decisions were taken unilaterally, whimsically and without transparency or institutional accountability.   Selective Targeting It also made accusations of ‘selective targeting’ of certain prominent members who attempted to raise valid issues, including the globally-renowned noted acupuncture expert Dr. P. B. Lohiya of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.   Other members raised doubts over approvals granted to more than a dozen acupuncture colleges and some two dozen Continuous Acupuncture Education (CAE) centres in undue haste, purportedly in violation of prescribed norms and alleged shady deals. Many of these institutions, it was claimed, either exist only on paper or lack essential infrastructure, faculty and facilities.   The petitioner called for a comprehensive review of the Administrator’s tenure, a financial audit of the MCA's affairs, and an independent probe by the MEDD into the approvals granted to the institutions in recent years.   Dr. Sawant had sought quashing Dr. Beramji’s appointment as MCA Administrator and setting aside all policy decisions taken during his tenure in the last three years, and ordering the government to hold elections to the body.

Loan Scheme Could be Game Changer

Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme

The Maharashtra government’s Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme offers interest-free loans ranging from 10 to 50 lakhs to educated and competent youngsters in Maharashtra who want to start their own businesses or grow an existing one. Maratha youngsters are given loans to start their own businesses on behalf of the Maharashtra government through the Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation. Recently, the Maharashtra Government issued a Government Decision (GR) authorizing the disbursement of 30 crore rupees on behalf of the Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation.


Regarding the state’s unemployment, the Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme was established to provide employment to the unemployed Maratha population, assist in business, and improve the state’s industrial sector. This initiative provides loans for businesses to the state’s youth in a very simple manner. Under this model, if a company makes a loan, the corporation pays the interest. This helps young people start their own businesses. The corporation is working to provide loans to the youngsters of the Maratha community. In the beginning, the teenagers had a difficult time obtaining financing from the firm. But eventually, the government improved the system for the youth so that they could receive funding as soon as possible. This system sets aside 4 percent of the total budget for the disabled.


The main and the most important objective of this scheme is to provide loans under the Annasaheb Patil Loan Scheme to the youth of Maharashtra state for them to start new businesses or expand current ones. To give financial help to economically disadvantaged groups, particularly unemployed youth, for them to start new businesses. Implementing plans to create jobs and self-employment prospects. To provide social development for economically disadvantaged groups. The bank provides self-employment to government-certified institutions as part of this strategy. Economically disadvantaged individuals are provided interest-free loans to establish employment groups, partnership societies, cooperative societies, corporations, LLPs, and FPO industries. The employment of the state will gradually increase, and the living standard of people will increase and get better.


In our state, there are many people who aspire to become entrepreneurs but struggle due to financial constraints. To address this issue, the state government initiated the Annasaheb Patil loan scheme. If you opt for a loan under this scheme to start your business, you will have a repayment period of up to 5 years. One of the prime conditions for the applicant is only permanent residents of Maharashtra are eligible for this loan scheme.

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