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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.

Local dynastic politics at play

Current and ex-legislators’ campaign for their children, accompany children for rallies, hold meetings, oversee media campaigns

Mumbai: Shiv Sena candidate Jay Kudalkar while leaving for his campaign early morning is seen busy taking tips from his father, Mangesh Kudalkar, who is the legislator from Kurla. Similarly, Deepti Waikar, who is contesting from Ward number 73 (Andheri-East), makes it a point to meet her father, Ravindra Waikar, every night to share her experiences of her daylong campaign. Waikar is currently the MP from Mumbai North West constituency and a former state minister.


Mangesh denies any favouritism for the party nomination. “We had shortlisted three candidates for this seat number 169 and left the decision to Eknath Shinde. My son was selected based on feedback given by the party workers and the survey which was done,” he said.


Deepti attributes her decision to contest elections as a means to carry out her social work. “Our entire family has been engaged in social work for decades, and I used to handle my father’s election campaign. The BMC will give me a platform to serve the people effectively,” said Deepti, who is a practising advocate of the Bombay High Court.


Currently, around half a dozen children of current and past legislators are contesting the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is touted as a stepping stone for their political careers. All these legislators assert that their children have got tickets based on their merit and they have played no role in this selection.


These legislators are strategising the campaigns by planning roadshows, meeting office bearers of various outfits and housing societies and overseeing their media campaigns.


Former Shiv Sena legislator Sada Sarvankar has both his children facing the electoral battle in the Dadar-Prabhadevi belt. While his son Samadhan Sarvankar is fighting his second election, daughter Priya Sarvankar is making her electoral debut from ward number 191 against veteran politico and former mayor Vishaka Raut. Sarvankar denies that he was promoting his children. “This is a reserved seat for OBC women, and we had no suitable candidate here except Priya. She has been politically active for the last few years and has got the seat due to her winnability factor,” said Sarvankar. Priya says that her father has been her inspiration. “See the commendable developmental work he has done in the area. I just want to carry his legacy forward,” Priya stated.


‘Forced to Field’

Veteran Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinod Ghosalkar’s younger son, Saurabh Ghosalkar, has entered into the electoral fray from ward number 7 in Dahisar. His daughter-in-law Tejaswi is already in the fray from Ward number 2 as a BJP candidate. Vinod Ghosalkar claims he was forced to field his son from this ward. “Ward number 7 has been neglected for years, and people are fed up. It was the locals who requested me to field my son,” Vinod said. He stated that he is unable to go on a door-to-door campaign. “I hold meetings with small groups in societies and slum pockets,” he added.


Most of these legislators have cut their political teeth in the BMC and then graduated to become legislators.


Political analysts describe the situation as local dynasty politics at play. “Suppose tomorrow these legislators go to Lok Sabha or are denied a ticket to recontest, then their children can take their place. In addition, BMC is an ideal place to learn local politics as well as distribute favours to the electorate. “This experience is valuable for a long-term political career,” said political analyst Hemant Desai.


In Dindoshi, legislator Sunil Prabhu is undertaking a rally canvassing for his son Ankit, who aims to make his electoral debut from ward number 54 in Goregaon.


Meanwhile, Neil Somaiyya, son of former MLA Kirit Somaiyaa, and Akash Raj Purohit, son of former MLA Raj Purohit, are seeking their second terms from Mulund and Bhuleshwar, respectively. Incidentally, Goregaon legislator Vidya Thakur’s son Sagar, who was a corporator during the last term, was denied a ticket to contest by the BJP.

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