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Time of India
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Heavy vehicles ignore ban, jam Ghodbunder highway
Thane: Motorists faced major inconvenience as hundreds of heavy freight vehicles clogged the Ghodbunder Highway, defying restrictions imposed on their movement for four days to facilitate prompt repair work of the highway stretch at Gaimukh Ghat. The Thane traffic police banned all heavy and multi-axle freight vehicles from using the highway in both directions from Saturday to Monday midnight, as two lanes at the ghat were shut for repairs. However, many transporters — particularly from JNPT, Nashik, and Mumbai — apparently ignored the advisory, causing a massive pile-up at the mouth of the highway at Majiwada starting Friday night. This compelled the authorities to allow the trucks to ply toward Borivli, a move that backfired when these vehicles got stuck in the ghat section, leading to an 8-km tailback stretching to Kapurbawdi by morning. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The situation worsened when several truck drivers abandoned their vehicles on the highway, further reducing lane availability and disrupting traffic. "The restriction for trucks was meant to prevent congestion at the repair site, as multi-axle trucks would struggle with frequent lane switching. But our plan failed," a senior traffic official admitted. "We deployed extra personnel and diverted stranded trucks from the Borivali-bound lanes to take U-turns at Manpada, Anand Nagar, and Waghbil junctions. We also tracked down truck owners and warned of legal action if vehicles weren't cleared." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Despite fewer vehicles on Saturday morning, office-goers still faced delays. Hemant Gupta reported being stuck for hours, stating, "Heavy vehicles were supposed to be banned, but they were everywhere. No updates, no traffic cops advising commuters." Neha Thakker was stranded at Owala for 45 minutes and had to cancel a meeting in Borivali. While the city limits remained clear by evening, motorists Jayant Bhat and Keyur Gondalia complained of congestion at the repair site even by evening. Transporters, already frustrated by frequent delays, claimed they were given too little time to plan alternate routes. The Ghodbunder Highway is a crucial connector for traffic between Gujarat, Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, the Konkan region, and Nashik, with over one lakh vehicles using it daily.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Curtailing assembly tenures, parliament would run afoul of Constitution's basic structure: Singhvi
Abhishek Manu Singhvi NEW DELHI: Senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi questioned the constitutionality of various provisions of the bill on simultaneous elections, while former justice Hemant Gupta opposed some key provisions about curtailing of assembly tenures , and suggested alternatives. Deposing before the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) vetting the legislation, according to diverse sources, Singhvi said curtailment of assembly tenures, as well as that of Parliament, would run afoul of the basic structure of the Constitution. He is reported to have termed it as compulsory reduction in the tenures of legislatures, which translates to tampering with the will of the people. Hemant Gupta is learnt to have questioned the amendment to Article 82 , as prescribed in the bill. In a written opinion, he has argued that an assembly should necessarily get a minimum of three years, before which it cannot be dissolved to synchronise its tenure with the Lok Sabha. He instead is said to have advocated that assembly tenures in such cases should be extended beyond their term to match with LS cycle. Others who spoke before the panel were retired justices BS Chauhan (former Law Commission chairman) and SN Jha. The JPC, headed by PP Chaudhary, comprises MPs Kalyan Banerjee, Randeep Surjewala, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, P Wilson, Ghanshyam Tiwari, Sambit Patra, among others. Chauhan and Jha supported the bill, sources said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Singhvi, who is also a senior Congress MP, is said to have argued that the bill does not provide for seeking the assemblies' assent to reduce their tenures but a concurrence would be required under Article 368. He reportedly also pointed out that changing the tenure of assembly would have a bearing on the election of Rajya Sabha members from those states. He said ratification by states would be a must if the assembly tenure was being slashed. Interestingly, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, sources said, asked if simultaneous polls would reduce the diversity of regional parties in states and at the Centre. She also asked if holding the polls together will result in similar outcomes in states and the Centre. Sources said DMK MP Wilson told Chauhan that the law commission's report spoke about seeking assent of states while he was now arguing that it was not required. TheMP reportedly argued that not seeking states' concurrence went against the principle of cooperative federalism as the Centre is downgrading the states' rights just to sync the LS polls with assemblies.
The Print
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Print
JPC all-states visit to begin from Maharashtra on May 17; to gather opinions on ‘One Nation, One Election'
Speaking to ANI, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' PP Chaudhary on Tuesday said that Maharashtra will be covered first from May 17 to May 18. New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) all-state visit on 'One Nation, One Election' will begin from Maharashtra on May 17, followed by Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Punjab. 'The committee believes that it should visit all states and hear their opinions, which is why the tour is being organised. Maharashtra will be covered first on May 17-18, then Uttarakhand between May 19 and 21. Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana) will be covered in June, according to different categories. Everyone will be heard, whether a celebrity, a sports person or anyone else, to know the thoughts of the people of the country, and will this be beneficial for the country?' he said. Reacting to the website launch, PP Chaudhary said that there should be 'transparency' and the entire Committee has agreed on this. 'There should be transparency. The entire Committee has agreed that we must keep transparency. The website will facilitate opinions from all the stakeholders. The committee took decisions on two major things — the advertisement will be printed in all languages so that all stakeholders can give their opinions… Secondly, the website will facilitate inputs from all stakeholders… This is being examined by the Secretary General… The development of technology is taking time to ensure the website doesn't crash… The website will be launched soon with a QR code facility. Suggestions will be collected, and Parliamentarians will review them,' he added. He further remarked that everyone has different opinions 'There could be different opinions in the Committee too…One time will come when all the members will agree to it because all the leaders think for the nation and will agree over it for the nation's interest,' he said. PP Chaudhary further asserted that in today's meeting, former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Hemant Gupta, along with Justice SN Jha, Dr BS Chauhan, and Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, will be there for the interaction. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' is underway and will continue till 5 pm. In the first session, there will be an interaction with Justice Hemant Gupta, former judge of the Supreme Court. This will be followed by a session with Justice SN Jha, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The next session will include Dr Justice BS Chauhan, former Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the 21st Law Commission of India. The final session will be with Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajya Sabha Member and Senior Advocate. On March 25, the JPC held an important meeting that lasted over five hours. Several MPS in the committee raised concerns about the practicality of holding Lok Sabha and state elections together. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Ex-judge says no need to curtail Assembly tenures for simultaneous elections
NEW DELHI: At the meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the 'One Nation One election' Bill, former Supreme Court Judge Hemant Gupta made suggestions, including the substitution of existing Article 82A with a new provision for the simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, said sources. Article 82A of the Constitution, as proposed by the 129th Amendment Bill 2024, aims to facilitate 'One Nation, One Election'. Justice Gupta spoke against the curtailment of assemblies, which have not completed at least three years of tenure, to synchronise their elections with that of the Lok Sabha, sources said. He instead suggested that their tenures should be extended. Gupta also conveyed his broad agreement to amend the Constitution to conduct simultaneous elections to Parliament and state assemblies, the sources said. Congress MP and SC lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said that the draft laws proposing simultaneous elections violate the 'basic structure', the will of the people and principles of federalism, even as several other jurists cited their positive impact. Singhvi said that the idea of federalism has evolved in the country over a period of time, citing the devolution of financial resources to the states by the Finance Commission and the gradual empowerment of local bodies. He also appeared to suggest that simultaneous elections will homogenise the agenda, favouring the same party in the national and state elections. Sources added that another former SC judge, B S Chauhan, also a former chairman of the Law Commission of India, called for introducing the 'doctrine of constructive no-confidence motion' so that an alternative government must be ready to step in if the incumbent is brought down through a no-confidence motion.. According to sources, DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson cited a violation of federalism by the proposed curtailment of state assemblies. 'The rights of the states have to be respected,' he said, according to sources.
India Gazette
22-04-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
JPC all-states visit to begin from Maharashtra on May 17; to gather opinions on 'One Nation, One Election'
By Suchitra Mukherjee New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) all-state visit on 'One Nation, One Election' will begin from Maharashtra on May 17, followed by Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh and Punjab. Speaking to ANI, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' PP Chaudhary on Tuesday said that Maharashtra will be covered first from May 17 to May 18. 'The committee believes that it should visit all states and hear their opinions, which is why the tour is being organised. Maharashtra will be covered first on May 17-18, then Uttarakhand between May 19 and 21. Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana) will be covered in June, according to different categories. Everyone will be heard, whether a celebrity, a sports person or anyone else, to know the thoughts of the people of the country, and will this be beneficial for the country?' he said. Reacting to the website launch, PP Chaudhary said that there should be 'transparency' and the entire Committee has agreed on this. 'There should be transparency. The entire Committee has agreed that we must keep transparency. The website will facilitate opinions from all the stakeholders. The committee took decisions on two major things -- the advertisement will be printed in all languages so that all stakeholders can give their opinions... Secondly, the website will facilitate inputs from all stakeholders... This is being examined by the Secretary General... The development of technology is taking time to ensure the website doesn't crash... The website will be launched soon with a QR code facility. Suggestions will be collected, and Parliamentarians will review them,' he added. He further remarked that everyone has different opinions 'There could be different opinions in the Committee time will come when all the members will agree to it because all the leaders think for the nation and will agree over it for the nation's interest,' he said. PP Chaudhary further asserted that in today's meeting, former judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Hemant Gupta, along with Justice SN Jha, Dr BS Chauhan, and Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, will be there for the interaction. The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on 'One Nation, One Election' is underway and will continue till 5 pm. In the first session, there will be an interaction with Justice Hemant Gupta, former judge of the Supreme Court. This will be followed by a session with Justice SN Jha, former Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. The next session will include Dr Justice BS Chauhan, former Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the 21st Law Commission of India. The final session will be with Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajya Sabha Member and Senior Advocate. On March 25, the JPC held an important meeting that lasted over five hours. Several MPS in the committee raised concerns about the practicality of holding Lok Sabha and state elections together. (ANI)
