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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.

Tale of strength, victory

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.


PART - 13


Name: Bhagyashree Shinde | Where: Mumbai
Name: Bhagyashree Shinde | Where: Mumbai

Bhagyashree Kaluram Shinde, a young girl from the Wadar Vasti community, represents resilience and determination. Her family, part of the Mati Wadar community, has encountered significant obstacles. The family’s move to Wadar Vasti and the closure of her father’s traditional mattress weaving business during the COVID-19 pandemic rushed them into crisis.


Amidst hardship, Bhagyashree’s father adjusted to the situation by establishing a small general store within their community. The family of six, which includes Bhagyashree’s parents, grandmother, and two younger sisters, worked together to navigate their new situations. Despite the challenges, Bhagyashree remained unwavering in her academic pursuits and extracurricular activities.


Bhagyashree has been an enthusiastic and energetic girl since childhood. Her parents says that she first began learning karate when she was in class 4. With her interest in sports, she chose karate and initially took a few days of coaching.


However, due to her family’s financial challenges, continuing formal training was not possible. Recognising her dedication and passion, her karate teacher Nitin Kamble decided to train her completely free of cost, ensuring that her dreams were not hindered by financial constraints.


For the past nine years, she has honed her skills in karate and become a formidable athlete with his unwavering support, both financial and motivational. Her journey in karate is marked by dedication, discipline, and countless hours of rigorous training.

A member of Child Rights and You’s activity center collective groups, Bhagyashree, actively participates in all the programs and events offered. She achieved a commendable 54 per cent in her 10th-grade examinations last year, demonstrating her dedication to her studies.


Bhagyashree’s journey from a small community in Wadar Vasti to the national stage is a proof to her dedication and perseverance. Her achievements at the City and State level tournaments in Katraj, Pune, where she secured second place and earned a silver medal, have paved the way for her participation in the National level tournament in Haryana in August 2024.


This success not only represents a personal achievement for Bhagyashree but also brings great pride to her family and community.


Her accomplishments emphasise that no goal is unattainable, and through hard work, persistence, and the right encouragement, one can achieve anything. She is not just a talented karate athlete; she symbolizes resilience, hope, and the limitless potential that resides within each of us. The sport not only strengthened her physically but also built her confidence.


Bhagyashree says, “I am no longer afraid to walk around the community, even at night, because I know I can protect myself.” This transformation, she believes, was made possible only because of karate, which empowered her with both skills and self-belief. She is pursuing her further education while also teaching karate to children in her community. Her dream is not only to achieve personal success in the sport but also to empower other girls through karate, helping them become as brave and confident.

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