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Time of India
an hour ago
- Politics
- Time of India
RTIs filed over samosas & grooms, Bombay HC irked by misuse
MUMBAI: What's eating the State Information Commission (SIC)? Frivolous RTI pleas over samosas in public offices, it appears. SIC told Bombay high court on Wednesday it had received an RTI application to know how many samosas are served in a day in a govt office. The misuse of RTI Act also drew flak from HC. It said laws are made with a beneficial purpose, but "people use them to look for sons-in-law... to find govt employees". "It's a paradox," said a bench of CJ Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. It was hearing a PIL by former chief information commissioner (CIC) Shailesh Gandhi and five RTI activists to direct SIC to give a roadmap for disposal of second appeals and complaints within 45 days of filing. SIC said the delays were due to vacancies. State's advocate Jyoti Chavan said there are seven sanctioned posts of state information commissioners and one CIC. Four vacancies, including CIC, were filled in April. The petitioners sought three additional posts of state information commissioners, citing nearly 1 lakh pending second appeals and complaints. Chavan said the state would decide on it. When HC asked petitioners' advocate Sunil Ahya whether "their grievances stand redressed", he said no, adding that the CIC was directed by HC in Dec 2023 to file a report on disposal of second appeals. The CJ generally commented about PIL petitioners "consistently finding fault with action of the govt". "They always come with a negative attitude and are never satisfied," he said. The judges said they cannot expand the PIL's scope and added that RTI was misused. The judges said RTI Act does not contain any time limit for second appeals. They disposed of the PIL saying they "hope and trust" SIC "shall make an endeavour to decide second appeals/complaints as expeditiously as possible".
India Today
5 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Maharashtra fills up all information commissioner posts, 5-year-old plea closed
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that it has filled all vacancies for the posts of State Chief Information Commissioner and State Information before the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne, Additional Government Pleader Jyoti Chavan submitted that the position of Chief Information Commissioner and seven posts of State Information Commissioners have all been court was hearing a petition filed five years ago by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi and other activists working in the field of transparency and governance. The plea had sought the immediate filling of vacant posts and the creation of three additional posts of State Information Commissioners in line with a previous Supreme Court order. During the hearing, Advocate Sunil Ahya, representing Gandhi, requested the court to fix a timeframe of 45 days for the disposal of second appeals under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, citing a large backlog of pending the bench acknowledged the concern, it pointed out that the RTI Act does not stipulate any specific time limit for deciding second appeals. However, the court observed, "It is trite law that even when a statute does not prescribe any limit for doing an act within a particular time, the same has to be done within a reasonable time."advertisementRegarding the demand for the creation of three additional posts, the state submitted that the financial implications of such a move are currently being considered, and an appropriate decision will be taken if the situation these submissions, the court disposed of the petition, bringing to a close a matter that had remained pending for half a decade.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC lifts ban on manufacturing PoP idols, bars immersion in natural water bodies
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday modified its January 2025 order that had imposed a blanket ban on the manufacture and sale of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. While the court has now allowed the manufacturing and sale of PoP idols to resume, it made it clear that such idols cannot be immersed in natural water bodies. A division bench of chief justice Alok Aradhe and justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a public interest litigation filed in view of the upcoming Ganesh festival, seeking enforcement of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) revised guidelines that prohibit the manufacture of PoP idols. The petitioners argued that despite the CPCB's directives, many manufacturers continued to produce PoP idols in violation of the ban. On the other hand, a related writ petition contended that the CPCB guidelines infringed on artisans' fundamental right to livelihood by restricting their traditional trade. After considering the submissions, the court permitted the continued manufacture and sale of PoP idols, while prohibiting their immersion in natural water bodies without prior court permission. 'It will be open to the petitioners and artisans to make PoP idols. However, the same shall not be immersed in natural water bodies without the leave of the court,' the bench stated. Advocate general Birendra Saraf, appearing for the state, submitted that the government needed more time to take a final decision on idol immersions based on the CPCB's recommendations. The court accepted the request and posted the matter for further hearing on June 30. Reiterating its stand, the court said, 'We are clear that any PoP idol shall not be allowed to be immersed in a natural water body. Artificial water bodies can be created for such immersions.' The issue of PoP idol immersion has been under judicial scrutiny since 2003, when NGO Janhit Manch filed a PIL seeking a complete ban on immersions in natural water sources due to pollution concerns. In 2009, the CPCB formed a committee to draft guidelines aimed at curbing pollution during religious festivals. These were revised in 2020, banning the immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies, but stopping short of banning their manufacture. A more recent report submitted on April 29 by the Rajiv Gandhi Science and Technology Commission (RGSTC)—a statutory body of the Maharashtra government—has added fresh perspective to the debate. Commissioned by Cultural Affairs minister Ashish Shelar, the report recommended conditional use of PoP idols. It proposed allowing PoP idols painted with eco-friendly paints to be immersed in large water bodies such as the sea and major rivers, provided these sites are located far from drinking water sources or animal habitats. The report also suggested exploring 'retrievable immersion' methods to enable the reuse of PoP idols.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC lifts ban on PoP idol-making, but no immersion in sea, rivers
Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Monday lifted the ban on the manufacture of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols and directed the state govt to take a policy decision on their immersion within three weeks. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne passed the order following the Central Pollution Control Board's expert committee on May 21 clarifying that CPCB's May 2020 revised guidelines banning manufacture and immersion of PoP idols "are always advisory in nature". The committee opined that the making of PoP idols is not prohibited. It recommended that state govts may decide to allow immersion subject to conditions, including ensuring designated temporary artificial tanks/ponds for immersion of PoP idols. However, immersion will not be allowed in natural water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and the sea. Hence, the judges modified the Jan 30 order that directed strict enforcement of CPCB's ban and asked the state to take a decision on their immersion. The Jan 30 interim order was passed on a PIL by three activists and nine clay-based idol-makers to enforce CPCB's May 2020 ban. Petitions were also filed by associations of PoP idol-makers, saying the ban violates their fundamental rights, including the right to carry on trade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No dark spots, 10 years younger! Just take this from Watsons URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo Advocate Uday Warunjikar and senior advocate S M Gorwadkar, for the petitioners, said the state govt appointed an expert committee whose report was sent to CPCB, which set up its own committee to look into the former's recommendations. With CPCB's clarification, they urged the HC to modify the Jan 30 order that "completely banned the manufacture and sale" of PoP idols and to direct the state to take a decision on their immersion. Advocate general Birendra Saraf urged that at least for huge idols "that are 20 feet," some exemption be granted to immerse in natural water bodies, adding, "Some statues have become so much part of our culture..." "Large size idols, you work out a solution. Because the court may not be an ideal place... One thing we are clear about is that we will not allow immersions in a natural water body,'' the CJ said. The judges said it will be open to members of the petitioner association as well as other artisans to make PoP idols subject to compliance with the Sept 2012 Nagpur bench order, pointed out by senior advocate Mihir Desai for PIL petitioners, to put a red mark to distinguish PoP idols. "However, it is directed that such idols shall not be immersed without leave of this court,'' they added, and posted the hearing on June 30.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Bombay High Court modifies order banning Ganapati idols made of plaster of paris
The Bombay High Court on Monday modified its January order through which it had put a complete ban on the manufacturing and sale of Ganpati idols made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP).The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne went through an affidavit filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) through advocate Abhinandan bench in its order said, "It will be open to the petitioners as well as artisans making PoP idols. However, the same shall not be immersed in natural water bodies without the leave of the court."advertisement The bench also granted three weeks' time to the Maharashtra government to clarify its stand and will hear the petitions again on June Maharashtra government wrote to the CPCB, following which an expert committee was set up to look into the issue, which said that there is no ban on the manufacturing and sale of PoP idols. However, they cannot be immersed in natural water CPCB also said that the guidelines issued by it in 2020 with regard to PoP were not statutory in nature, only this hearing, the bench said, "This is a classic case of diluting one's own authority. The court is saying you have power, you are saying no."However, in the event of the CPCB stating so, the Maharashtra Advocate General, Dr Birendra Saraf sought time to clear the state government's stand on the Ganpati festival is starting on August 27, 2025 and, with just 65 days remaining, the petitioners requested the court to add in its order that the ban imposed by the court in its January order has been modified.
