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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.

The fire fighter!

Updated: Nov 7, 2024

Vinod Tawde

BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, who had always been known as the ‘fire fighter’ since his days as organization secretary in the ABVP, has successfully mediated and persuaded several rebels to withdraw their nominations against the BJP or Mahayuti nominees.


Tawde’s organizational as well as enterprising abilities have received praise even from his political opponents. The then DCM Ajit Pawar’s welcome speech in the legislature when Tawde became the leader of opposition in 2011 was full of praise for all such qualities of Tawde.


Born on July 20, 1963, Tawde completed his secondary education at St. Anthonia High School, Santacruz, and his higher secondary education at Parle College, Vile Parle in Mumbai and then pursued a vocational course from Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth in Pune while he was an ABVP activist. His impeccable organizational skills saw him quickly rise through the ranks to become the Secretary-General of ABVP in 1988 and later the National Secretary in 1993.


In 1995, Tawde was appointed as the General Secretary of the BJP’s Maharashtra unit, a position he held until 1999 and again from 2002 to 2011. In 1999, he became the President of the Mumbai City Unit of the BJP, making him the youngest person to hold this position.


Tawde served in various legislative capacities. He was a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2008 to 2014 and served as the Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 2011 to 2014. In 2014, he was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Borivali constituency.


He also held several key ministerial positions in the Maharashtra government between 2014 and 2019, including the Minister for School Education, Higher and Technical Education, Sports and Youth Welfare, Minority Development, and Marathi Language and Culture. His tenure was marked by efforts to improve the education system and promote Marathi culture.


He is married to Varsha Pawar Tawde, a social worker and writer. The couple has a daughter named Anvee Tawde. Tawde’s family has a strong connection to the RSS, with his father, Shreedhar Ramchandra Tawde, being a member of the organization.


Since November 2021, Tawde is serving the party as the National General Secretary, a testament to his enduring influence and leadership within the party.


Vinod Tawde’s journey from a student activist to a senior leader in one of India’s major political parties highlights his dedication and resilience. His contributions to education and cultural affairs in Maharashtra have left a lasting impact, and his role in the BJP continues to shape the political landscape of India.

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