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Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
AAP raises doubts over civic polls credibility, wants multi-member ward plan scrapped
THE Aam Aadmi Party which has already strongly objected to recent decision of the Maharashtra State Election Commission to conduct the upcoming local body elections without the use of the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), today raised a serious concerns regarding the transparency, fairness and credibility of the electoral process. At the same time, the AAP demanded that multi-member ward plan should not be implemented in civic elections. 'As held in multiple judgments of the Supreme Court of India, free and fair elections form part of the basic structure of the Constitution. The use of VVPAT is an essential safeguard that enables verification of votes cast through electronic voting machines (EVMs) and ensures public confidence in the electoral process,' Vijay Kumbar, vice-president of AAP, Maharashtra unit, said in a letter to State Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare on Monday. In the letter, Kumbhar said, ' Without VVPAT, voters lose the ability to verify their vote, which denies them their fundamental right to ensure that their vote has been correctly recorded. In several election disputes (including Mohit Kumar vs. Kuldeep Singh and related cases), the honourable courts have repeatedly emphasised the necessity of procedural safeguards to maintain electoral integrity. Conducting elections without VVPAT will create grounds for widespread challenges and litigation, delaying the democratic process.' AAP said the Election Commission of India (ECI) has itself mandated VVPAT use in all Parliamentary and Assembly elections. 'Excluding it from local body elections is discriminatory and contrary to established democratic norms. The Supreme Court has, on multiple occasions, emphasized the mandatory nature of transparency-enhancing mechanisms such as VVPAT. 'In Subramanian Swamy vs. Election Commission of India (2013), the Court held that VVPAT is an indispensable requirement of free and fair elections and directed its phased introduction to ensure voter confidence. In subsequent cases, including those in 2019 and 2024, the court reiterated that VVPAT verification is an essential feature for ensuring the credibility of electronic voting. Thus, the Supreme Court's clear intention has been to make VVPAT mandatory in all elections wherever EVMs are used, as it ensures accuracy, transparency, and verifiability. The Mohit Kumar vs. Kuldeep Singh case further illustrates the risk of relying solely on electronic data. An error in tallying nearly altered the democratic mandate. The court's supervised recount (with videography) underscores the absolute need for verifiable records like VVPAT to resolve disputes credibly,' the AAP said. Kumbhar said, 'We request the State Election Commission to reconsider the continuation of multi- member wards in local body elections. The Parliament of India, through the Two-Member Constituencies (Abolition) Act, 1961, abolished two-member constituencies in Parliamentary and State Legislative elections. The Election Commission of India strongly supported this reform, noting that multi-member constituencies created administrative complications, diluted accountability, and often resulted in unequal or distorted representation. The reasons behind the 1961 abolition are directly applicable to local body elections today: Administrative Complexity – Larger constituencies made campaigning and election management difficult. Electoral Inequity – In some cases, reserved category candidates won both seats, excluding others and creating imbalance.' Kumbhar said single-member constituencies ensured clearer accountability and prominence for elected representatives. Voter Convenience – Voting became simpler and more transparent when each voter elected only one representative.'These same issues are now reflected in multi-member wards at the municipal and panchayat levels, where accountability is diluted, campaign costs increase, and voters face confusion. The abolition of two-member constituencies was hailed by both Parliament and the Election Commission as a vital democratic reform. Applying the same principle to local body elections would strengthen grassroots democracy by ensuring clear accountability, equitable representation, and simpler administration.' Stating that conducting elections with VVPAT and under a single-ward system will not cause any delay to the ongoing election process, Kumbhar said, 'VVPAT machines are already available and in routine use for Parliamentary and Assembly elections, and their deployment in local body elections requires no additional procedural hurdles. Similarly, adopting a single-ward system, based on the 1961 precedent, simplifies the election process rather than complicating it, thereby reducing administrative burdens and litigation risks. Hence, these reforms would strengthen electoral transparency and efficiency without affecting election schedules or timelines.'
Time of India
25-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Nag Panchami holiday for all Nagpur schools on July 29
Nagpur: The district education department has directed all schools in Nagpur, including those affiliated with CBSE, to remain closed on July 29 (Tuesday) on account of Nag Panchami. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a recent letter, the department asked all heads and administrators of schools in the district to strictly follow the holiday calendar approved earlier this year. This directive came following representations made by the CBSE Schools Staff Welfare Association (CSSWA), which pointed out that some CBSE schools were not declaring the festival as a holiday. District education officer Rohini Kumbhar issued the letter reminding all schools that Nag Panchami is already declared as a school holiday in the official holiday list for the current academic year. Kumbhar noted that her office received several complaints about CBSE schools ignoring the calendar. "In view of these complaints, the directive issued by this office on 14 February 2025 is being reiterated to ensure all schools remain closed on July 29," the letter stated. The circular also asked all block and cluster-level education officers to confirm that schools comply with the holiday and warned that any violations would be taken seriously. The CSSWA, in a detailed letter dated July 23, urged the district administration to ensure uniformity among CBSE schools regarding holidays. "None of the CBSE schools from Nagpur region have declared a holiday on Nag Panchami despite education department directives," said CSSWA president Deepali Dably. Following the education department's latest letter, several CBSE schools in Nagpur have already issued holiday notices to parents and staff, ensuring compliance with the directive for July 29.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PMC to probe officials' role in possible tweaks
Pune: The civic administration on Thursday decided to look into the civic officials' role in the PMC's alleged revised agreement with Konkan Mitra Mandal Medical Trust, after activist Vijay Kumbhar claimed that private institutions' or personal benefits could have been prioritised over citizens' interests in it. Prithviraj B P, the additional Pune municipal commissioner, said, "We will probe if and how changes in terms and conditions were made, if any." Vasundhara Barve, the head of PMC's estate management, said the administration had convened a meeting regarding the issue on Friday. "The details of the terms and conditions can be cross-verified only once we get details from the trust. The future course of action will be decided accordingly," she said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Kumbhar, an office-bearer of AAP, questioned the role of civic officials in the agreement, a day after the PMC sought details of the trust's deals with various hospital chains. Prithviraj, the additional municipal commissioner, said, "We are yet to get the details, which were sought from the trust." According to Kumbhar, the agreement's terms and conditions could have been initially made to benefit the larger public while leasing the land. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo He alleged that these could have been diluted later. He said, "The civic document highlights that the reservation of 50 beds for the PMC was discussed while finalising the proposal to lease the land. But later, instead of keeping 50 beds aside, the civic body accepted the condition of providing 50 bed days. Had 50 beds been reserved, more public interest could have been served." Kumbhar said, "It appears that clauses 8 and 9 of the lease agreement were violated. The main reason is the inactivity of the officials concerned and prioritising private institutions' or personal benefits over citizens' interests. The administration should take administrative and legal action against the officials, who neglected such matters." According to the PMC's letter to the trust on Wednesday, the land measuring 1,976sqm at Pune Peth Erandwane, final plot number 30, was given to Konkan Mitra Mandal Medical Trust on lease for 99 years on the condition of paying a premium of Rs 53,35,200 and an annual rent of Rs 1. The lease agreement was registered (No. 1260/1998) on February 27, 1998. The legal department of the PMC said the process of leasing the municipal land was governed by the MRTP Act and other norms of allotment of civic properties. "The allotment of the said land is an old matter. Factors like whether the then general body of the PMC gave a green signal for the lease or not, and if all the agreed terms and conditions were followed or not would be cross-verified by the civic administration," said Nisha Chavan, the head of the PMC's legal department.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Unknown callers try to extort Rs6L from Pimpri resident by threatening to share personal photos
Pune: The Sant Tukaramnagar police on Monday registered a case against unknown callers who threatened an auto parts dealer (41) from Nehrunagar in Pimpri of sharing his personal pictures with his female friend with their relatives and attempted to extort Rs 6 lakh. The dealer and his female friend received these calls starting June 27. He approached the Sant Tukaramnagar police on Monday and lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the relevant sections of the Information and Technology Act. Senior inspector Gorakh Kumbhar of the Sant Tukaramnagar police told TOI that the suspects accessed the intimate photographs and videos of the complainant and his female friend. "On June 27, an unknown person sent these photographs and videos to the complainant and his friend. The person also sent a message threatening to share these digital materials with their relatives and friends," Kumbhar said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune He said the complainant then started receiving extortion calls. They were demanding Rs 6 lakh for not sharing these pictures and videos with the relatives and permanently deleting them. "The victim ignored the calls for four days as the suspects used to call from different cellphone numbers before filing the complaint," he said. Kumbhar said the police found that all the cellphone numbers were from outstation. "It is a case of cyber fraud. The suspects accessed the victim's personal photos and videos and started blackmailing him. We are working on some clues," Kumbhar said. Pune: The Sant Tukaramnagar police on Monday registered a case against unknown callers who threatened an auto parts dealer (41) from Nehrunagar in Pimpri of sharing his personal pictures with his female friend with their relatives and attempted to extort Rs 6 lakh. The dealer and his female friend received these calls starting June 27. He approached the Sant Tukaramnagar police on Monday and lodged a complaint. The police registered a case under section 308 (extortion) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the relevant sections of the Information and Technology Act. Senior inspector Gorakh Kumbhar of the Sant Tukaramnagar police told TOI that the suspects accessed the intimate photographs and videos of the complainant and his female friend. "On June 27, an unknown person sent these photographs and videos to the complainant and his friend. The person also sent a message threatening to share these digital materials with their relatives and friends," Kumbhar said. He said the complainant then started receiving extortion calls. They were demanding Rs 6 lakh for not sharing these pictures and videos with the relatives and permanently deleting them. "The victim ignored the calls for four days as the suspects used to call from different cellphone numbers before filing the complaint," he said. Kumbhar said the police found that all the cellphone numbers were from outstation. "It is a case of cyber fraud. The suspects accessed the victim's personal photos and videos and started blackmailing him. We are working on some clues," Kumbhar said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
India Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
'Silver dinner plates, Rs 5,000 per meal': Maharashtra government event sparks row
The platinum jubilee meeting of Parliament's Estimates Committee in Mumbai has landed in controversy, with the Maharashtra Congress and social activists alleging blatant splurge by the state government, throwing a "lavish" party by serving guests on silver plates, despite the state facing financial two-day event, inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Mumbai's Vidhan Bhavan complex, welcomed around 600 guests from across the country. The Maharashtra Congress alleged that the guests served meals worth Rs 5,000 each on silver dinner plates rented for Rs 550 Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar called it "extravagant spending". "When the state is virtually on the brink of bankruptcy, what was the need to serve meals on silver plates to members of the Estimates Committees in Mumbai?" he told reporters in Nagpur. He also alleged that around Rs 5,000 was spent on each guest's meal while, on the other hand, loan waivers were being denied to farmers, bonuses were not being paid and budget cuts were made for several welfare Estimates Committee, at the central and state/UT level, evaluates the expenditure estimates for each administrative department in respective budgets and spending of Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal also attacked the Devendra Fadnavis-led government and echoed his party colleague Wadettiwar."They (Estimates Committee delegation members) feasted on a Rs 5,000 meal served on Rs 550 worth of silver plate each. Was the fund spent linked to the money found in the Dhule government guest house when the state estimates committee was touring?" he social activist Kumbhar claimed that the money spent on 600 guests totalled to Rs 27 lakh. "Extravagant splurge of public money! Mumbai's Vidhan Bhavan hosted a lavish feast for Budget Committee members from across India, costing Rs 4,500 per person. Served on silver plates (Rs 550 each), the meal for 600 guests totalled Rs 27 lakh! The same committee preaching austerity indulged in this wasteful display, sparking public outrage," he wrote in a long post on the event a spectacle of excess, Kumbhar said the guests mocked their responsibility for prudent budgeting. "With 40-foot banners, stays at Taj Palace and Trident, AC dining tents, chandeliers, and red carpets, this was a royal mockery of taxpayers' money!"However, sources privy to the matter told India Today TV that the guests were served on a plate with a silver coating and not silver plates as claimed. The cost per plate meal was not Rs 4,000 but lower than that, they was no official comment from the state legislature on this issue.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra#Mumbai
