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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.

Temba stands tall as Proteas ‘Hope’

  • PTI
  • Jun 14, 2025
  • 3 min read

By Kushan Sarkar

New Delhi: Never ask Temba Bavuma 'what's there in a name'?

They have trolled him for his pre-captaincy batting average, body shamed him, resorted to name calling but for Bavuma, the new World Test Champion captain from South Africa, it was all in the name.


The name 'Temba' given by his grandmother means 'Hope' in Zulu.


Just like his name, Temba never gave up on hope, that one day, the Proteas as a nation will be on top of the world at his dream ground --Lord's.


Just as Kyle Verreynne hit the winning runs, Temba covered his face with his palms even as others around him were ecstatic.


He perhaps wanted to hide his moistened eyes, didn't want to choke up like teammate Keshav Maharaj but after leading South Africa to its first ICC trophy in 27 years.


The first-ever Black Captain to win a global trophy for the Rainbow Nation -- probably the brightest colour in the VIBGYOR, the man, all of 63 inches vertically towered over an Australian team that has 10 ICC trophies.


But it is not just a victory of a cricket team but for all those Black South Africans, who have suffered during apartheid for years. Seeing their 'Little Big Man' who walked through that Lord's Long Room, entered the field, carried himself with utmost grace as he lifted the Golden mace.


When the next chapter of South Africa's social history in the post apartheid era will be written, Temba , Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi's names will be enshrined in gold. There will be Indian origin players like Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy and white South Africans like Aiden Markram, David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs.


"Here's an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite. You can be rest assured we'll celebrate as one," Temba told Nasser Hussain during presentation.


Special talent

By the age of 11, Temba was on a sports scholarship after being identified as a special talent. As a sixth grader, he had once written an essay that found its pride of place in school magazine.


In exactly 15 years, he was playing for South Africa.


And if one knows his goal, the journey however difficult it might be, never looked improbable.


When he was appointed the captain, there were voices down the corridors of South African cricket establishment that raised questions if he was deserving. His batting average was in early 30s but little did they think that with a game built on copious amount of patience and the grit that was on show on Friday, Temba would be averaging 57 plus as a batter when he captained South Africa.


But it is not his on-field achievements that makes him special but off-field connections that he has made over the years that makes him an endearing human being. One who believes in inclusivity.


He never had any ill feelings when Quinton de Kock didn't take a knee to support 'Black Lives Matter' movement. But in the last three years, he has shown how to take everyone along -- the Blacks, the Whites and the Coloured.


He runs a foundation which helps underprivileged children get education and chance to excel at sport like he did. He lives a quiet life with his wife Phila Lobi, a Real Estate Mogul and his child.

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