Latest news with #MaharashtraStateHumanRightsCommission
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Maharashtra human rights panel addresses health risks from increasing pigeon population in Mumbai, seeks report from Health Secretary, BMC
Justice A M Badar MUMBAI: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission took up suo motu (on its own) the health menace caused by the steep rise in Mumbai's pigeon population and their open feeding spaces. On Tuesday, Justice A M Badar, the HR Commissioner, issued a notice to and called for reports from the state principal secretary, Health Dept, and Mumbai civic chief. The rampant feeding was a menace for Mumbaikars and constituted a breach of the right to life, said the MSHRC in an order. The report has to be filed in eight weeks, the Human Rights Commissioner, Justice Badar, said. He posted the matter before the court on September 16 at 11 am for further deliberations and orders. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The commission noted the 'skyrocketing numbers of pigeons in Mumbai and the allocation of large spaces for feeding them.' 'It is a matter of common knowledge that pigeon droppings and feather dust cause about 60 types of diseases and constitute health hazards to humans it causes Salmonella, psittacosis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.' The commission said pigeon droppings and dust also cause various lung diseases and infections leading to flu and respiratory distress, fibrosis of the lungs, etc., by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 "실비보험" 최적가 가입추천! "月 보험료 낮추고, 보장은 실속있게"... 굿리치 [등록번호:제2006038313호] 가격 받기 Undo and noted that the feeding activities go on unabated in Mumbai and surrounding areas. The state recently directed the BMC to curb the menace of pigeons by doing away with the feeding spots—kabutar khanas—and to prevent residents from feeding the birds. The commission, finding no improvement in the situation, issued a notice to the state and BMC. The state ordered BMC to shut down 'kabootar khanas' (feeding points for pigeons) in Mumbai, citing health hazards arising from their droppings, a week ago. There are over 50 such kabootar khanas in the city, the Legislative Council was informed.
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Time of India
Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission issues notice to DGP over video showing security corporation personnel stopping motorists inside Mumbai-Pune Expressway tunnel
Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has taken suo moto cognisance of a video posted on social media showing Maharashtra State Security Corporation personnel stopping and "harassing" motorists in the Mumbai-Pune Expressway tunnel. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The commission issued a notice to the state DGP to inquire into the matter. "Employees of the corporation do not possess police powers as prescribed by the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. Consequently, a prima facie case of serious by entirely unauthorised persons is established," said MSHRC chairperson A M Badar while issuing notice to the corporation. MSHRC has called for a report of a fact-finding inquiry from the director general of police and the managing director of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation within eight weeks. The MSHRC stated that the recording alleged that Maharashtra State Security Corporation, Mumbai, employees were deployed on the expressway from Pune to Mumbai and were extorting or harassing travellers by stopping vehicles in the tunnel. The complaint was registered suo motu based on the video clip circulating on a social media platform. The MSHRC stated that in addition to the illegality, the actions of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation employees posed a threat to travellers' lives and such actions might result in vehicular accidents on the expressway. The Maharashtra State Security Corporation, Mumbai, was established by the state govt primarily to provide security cover to industrial and financial institutions, as well as municipal or other state corporations.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice Sayeed: Dedicated police team needed to tackle drug menace effectively
1 2 3 4 Nagpur: Justice MA Sayeed, former member of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, has urged the creation of separate police teams for protocol duties and crime investigation to improve the efficiency of anti-narcotics operations. Addressing the city police's Anti-Drug Day programme under Operation Thunder, Justice Sayeed said that the present structure overstretches the force, hampering focused investigation. "The Malimath Commission has already suggested this segregation. The city commissioner must formally move the home ministry," he said. Justice Sayeed stressed the importance of creating dedicated investigation units trained specifically for narcotics-related offences under the NDPS Act. "You need a strong, informed team to tackle the drug menace effectively. This is not just about arrests, it's about long-term disruption of the supply chain," he said. Highlighting the crucial role of NGOs, legal services authorities, and schools in sensitizing both youth and families, he said, "We always speak of rights, but the conversation must start with ethics, duties and discipline. If we want to create good citizens, we must guide the youth before they stray," he said, recalling how during his stint in Nagpur in 2001, he once saw school students casually smoking at a pan shop. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Invisible Patch Is Helping Women Regain Confidence LeanPatch Learn More Undo He chose to confront and counsel them. Praising the police force, Sayeed said that it is easy to label police as corrupt, but he has seen first-hand the kind of hard work Maharashtra police puts in. "Public, police, and judiciary must work together, not in isolation. Mutual respect and trust are essential," Former Nagpur commissioner of police (CP) and retired DGP Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay backed Operation Thunder's approach, calling it a "corrective shift" in drug law enforcement. "The real problem lies with the peddlers, not the users. Drug addicts are victims, they need help. The ones filling their pockets by ruining lives are the ones who should be behind bars," he said. Upadhyay, who served in Nagpur for over a decade, stressed the need for consistency in such operations. "Peddler networks regenerate if not continuously crushed. Long-term intelligence, regular enforcement and coordination with agencies are key." CP Ravinder Singal briefed the audience on the impact of Operation Thunder. Over 1,000 suspects have been apprehended, and the SIMBA app has been central in tracking offender data. "From tip-offs to late-night raids, we've covered every angle. One mother told us how her teenage son got hooked to drugs and slowly slipped into burglary. The downward spiral begins silently — early awareness is our best weapon," he said. Inspector general Dilip Bhujbal emphasised multi-agency collaboration and noted the operation's reach across educational and public zones. MLA Ashish Deshmukh too praised the initiative and recalled past de-addiction efforts in Khaparkheda that revealed how drug dependency often fuels petty crimes. Acting vice-chancellor of the Nagpur University, Madhavi Khode-Chaware, was also present at the occasion.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Time of India
Maharashtra human rights panel recommends Rs 5 lakh compensation for prison death, seeks action against jail authorities
Mumbai: The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has recommended a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the family of a convicted inmate who died in Nagpur Central Prison in June 2022. The commission also asked for action against the jail authorities, as their negligence led to the incident. The commission could not determine the events leading to the prisoner's death because the jail authorities reported that the CCTV in the facility was non-functional at the time. The MSHRC set the compensation amount as per the state govt's recent April circular, which stipulated Rs 5 lakh compensation for families of individuals who die in police or jail custody. The MSHRC also instructed the state to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to fix responsibility and accountability for the maintenance, upkeep, and monitoring of CCTV systems in prisons, as directed by the Supreme Court. The MSHRC order, signed by its chairperson Justice A M Badar and member Sanjay Kumar, stated that the non-functional CCTV system undermined fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Τι είναι το ChatGPT για το οποίο μιλάνε όλοι; courses AI Undo The commission attributed the custodial death to the negligence of jail authorities and recommended a detailed inquiry by the DIG rank office against the prison authorities for appropriate action. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The deceased, Mangesh Hirkane, aged 36 from Gondia, served a life sentence in Nagpur Central Prison for a murder case. Mangesh was discovered drowned in a water tank inside the prison barracks shortly after midnight on June 10, 2022. Authorities claimed he drowned and received treatment for depression in prison. The inquiry after his death did not find foul play but blamed two other convicted inmates assigned to patrolling duty that night for failing to perform their tasks. The non-functional CCTV cameras in the barracks prevented the Judicial Magistrate from accessing footage. The Magistrate's inquiry concluded that Mangesh died by drowning and was undergoing medical treatment for epilepsy and psychiatric illness. A separate internal inquiry ordered by the DIG prison (east division) found negligence and dereliction of duty by two convicted inmates assigned to guard duty in the barracks. It noted the CCTV was non-functional, making the exact sequence of events unclear. Also, the night duty officer could not confirm when he last checked the barracks, indicating supervision failure.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In short-term, Maha plans more barracks, bail reform to decongest jails
Nagpur: Alongside the infrastructure overhaul, the Maharashtra govt is implementing a multi-pronged short-term plan to reduce overcrowding in prisons. In a detailed affidavit submitted to the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, inspector general of prisons, Jalindar Supekar, revealed a series of measures, including the construction of new barracks and bail relief for undertrial prisoners. The immediate focus is on barrack expansion within existing facilities, with several projects under way or recently approved. The affidavit, which was later submitted to the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, disclosed that nine new barracks with a combined capacity of 200 inmates were sanctioned at Yerwada Central Prison in 2023-24. Additionally, 100-capacity barracks at Yerwada Open Women Prison and 200-capacity units at Yerwada Open Prison are under construction. These works are expected to be completed in the next six months. Similar expansion is under way at Nagpur Central Prison, Solapur, Satara, Yavatmal and Buldhana jails. These expansions will add 1,370 inmate spaces across the state. For 2025-26, proposals have been sent for 67 new barracks in 12 prisons, including facilities in Amravati, Chandrapur, Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Thane, Nashik Road and Kalyan. 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 These units are expected to house an additional 2,754 inmates. The affidavit, submitted in response to a writ petition concerning prison reforms filed by Nanded-based undertrial Sachin Lone through counsel Ratna Singh, added that administrative approvals for these projects have been secured, and work is in various stages of progress. According to Supekar, the govt is committed to fast-tracking these projects to mitigate the immediate crisis of prisoner overcrowding and uphold human rights standards. Supekar's affidavit asserts that the combined efforts of barrack construction, undertrial bail reform, and remission benefits will collectively ease pressure on jails across Maharashtra.
