Maharashtra ministers portfolios allocations were announced on Saturday and CM Devendra Fadnavis has kept the Home Department with himself, Ajit Pawar has got Finance and Eknath Shinde was given the Urban Development. CM Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar were sworn in on December 5, and 39 ministers were inducted ahead of the Winter Session on December 15. However, portfolio allocation in the Mahayuti government took place on December 21. The Mahayuti, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), secured a landslide victory in the November 20 assembly polls by winning 230 out of 288 seats. BJP-led alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded with 39 ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine for Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session that began in Nagpur on December 16. Name Portfolio Devendra Fadnavis Home, Energy (Excluding Renewable Energy), Law & Judiciary, General Administration Dept., Information & Publicity Eknath Shinde Urban Development, Housing, Public Works (Public Enterprises) Ajit Pawar Finance & Planning, State Excise Chandrashekhar Bawankule Revenue Radhakrushna Vikhe-Patil Water Resources (Godavari & Krishna Valley Development Corporation) Hasan Mushrif Medical Education Chandrakant Patil Higher & Technical Education Parliamentary Affairs Girish Mahajan Water Resources (Vidharbha, Tapi, Konkan Devclopment Corporation), Disaster Management Ganesh Naik Forests Gulabrao Patil Water Supply & Sanitation Dadaji Bhuse School Education Sanjay Rathod Soil & Water Conservation Dhananjay Munde Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection Mangalprabhat Lodha Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Uday Samant Industries, Marathi Language Jaykumar Rawal Marketing, Protocol Pankaja Munde Environment & Climate Change, Animal Husbandry Atul Save OBC Welfare, Dairy Development & Renewable Energy Ashok Uike Tribal Development Shambhuraj Desai Tourism, Mining, Ex- Servicemen Welfare Ashish Shelar Information Technology, Cultural Affairs Dattatray Bharane Sports & Youth welfare, Minorities Development & Aukaf Aditi Tatkare Women & Child Development Shivendrasingh Bhosale Public Works (Excluding Public Enterprises) Manikrao Kokate Agriculture Jaykumar Gore Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Narhari Zirwal Food & Drug Administration, Special Assistance Sanjay Savkhare Textiles Sanjav Shirsat Social Justice Pratap Sarnaik Transport Bharatsheth Gogawale Employment Guarantee, Horticulture, Salt Pan Land Development Makarand Jadhav (Patil) Relief & Rehabilitation Nitesh Rane Fisheries, Ports Aakash Fundkar Labour Babasaheb Patil Co-operation Prakash Abitkar Public Health & Family Welfare The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena with 57 and Ajit Pawar's NCP getting 41. The results of the elections were declared on November 23. Leaders of the Mahayuti alliance were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the Maharashtra government during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur last Sunday. Allocated to BJP ministers Revenue), Water Resources- Krishna and Godavari Valley Development corporation, Higher and Technical Education, Parliamentary affairs, Water Resources- Vidarbha , Tapi, Konkan Development Corporation and Disaster Management, Forests, Skill Development, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Marketing and Protocol, Environment and Climate Change, Animal Husbandry, OBC Welfare, Dairy Development and Renewable Energy, Tribal Development, Cultural Affairs and Information Technology, Public Works, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Textiles, Fisheries and Ports, Labour. Allocated to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena Ministers' Water Supply and Sanitation, School Education, Soil and Water Conservation, Industries and Marathi language, Tourism, Mining, Ex-servicemen Welfare, Social Justice, Transport, Employment Guarantee, Horticulture, Salt Pan Lands Development and Public Health and Family Welfare. Allocated to Ajit Pawar-led NCP ministers' Medical Education, Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection, Sports, Youth Welfare, Minority Development and Aukaf, Women and Child Development, Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Special Assistance, Relief and Rehabilitation and Cooperation. Meanwhile, as many as six ministers of state were also announced on Saturday night. Name Portfolio Ashish Jaiswal Finance & Planning, Agriculture, Relief & Rehabilitation, Law & Judiciary, Labour Madhuri Misal Urban Development, Transport, Social Justice, Medical Education, Minorities Development & Aukaf Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar Home (Rural), Housing, School Education, Co-operation, Mining Meghna Bordikar Public Health & Family Welfare, Water Supply & Sanitation, Energy, Women & Child Development, Public Works (Public Enterprises) Indranil Naik Industries, Public Works, Higher & Technical Education, Tribal Development, Tourism, Soil & Water Conservation Yogesh Kadam Home (Urban), Revenue, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Food Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection, Food & Drug Administration
21 December,2024 10:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSoon, the motorists travelling between Eastern Express Highway (EEH) and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and vice versa will get a sigh of relief as new connector on the route is likely to be opened next week to ease traffic congestion. The 180-meter long missing link connector is expected to be opened for motorists in the coming week, sources said. Sources from Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said that this 180-meter long connector will help motorists coming from the Eastern Express Highway reach BKC without signals in just 15 minutes. This is the third road connecting the eastern suburbs to BKC, joining the SCLR, BKC connectors, and the road below the BKC-Chunnabhatti connector. MMRDA has constructed the elevated connector between Bandra-Kurla Complex 'G Block' and the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) to improve accessibility to BKC from EEH. The connector was opened to traffic on November 10, 2019. The existing connectivity between WEH and EEH includes the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road, Sion-Dharavi-Kalanagar, and the EEH-BKC Connector-WEH. Considering the travel time for all the options, the BKC Connector option has the shortest travel time. As a result, maximum East-West traffic uses the BKC Connector during both morning and evening peak periods, leading to heavy congestion on the internal roads of BKC and BKC Avenue. Currently, due to the increased number of vehicles entering the BKC area via the connector, BKC is experiencing heavy traffic congestion during peak hours (morning and evening), and commuters are facing long delays. The existing link from NSE Junction to Avenue-3: Lane-1 (PNB) - Street-3 (One BKC) - BKC Connector is heavily congested. To reduce traffic congestion at the BKC One Junction and BKC Connector Junction, the project was planned as a link from SEBI Building to Avenue-5, below the BKC Connector Road (missing link), Avenue-3 (We-Work), and BKC Connector. This project is being executed by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. It may be noted that the travel distance in both links remains the same, i.e., 850 meters; however, the new option will offer signal-free movement with reduced travel time. This link will distribute traffic to the BKC Connector and EEH in three alternative routes, resulting in a faster, optimized dispersal of traffic. The link will also provide uninterrupted connectivity for traffic coming to/from the Connector & NSE side, dispersing towards G-Block (e.g., MCA, Consulate, MTNL, etc.).
21 December,2024 08:45 PM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentAhead of the the New Year Eve 2024 celebrations in the city, Mumbai Police on Saturday issued a traffic advisory for motorists in Bandra west area. In a traffic notification, the Mumbai Traffic Police said, as celebration is arranged at Bandra Reclamation, K.C. Road and Carter Road on the occasion of New Year, heavy traffic congestion is expected in parts of Bandra west. It said that it is necessary to change vehicular traffic patterns to avoid congestion and for smooth flow of traffic in parts of Bandra. The traffic notification was issued Samadhan Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police, HQ & Central Traffic, Mumbai Police. It further said that in order prevent danger, obstruction and inconvenience to the public following order was being issued and the temporary traffic arrangements will remain in force from 15.00 hrs. dated 22/12/2024 to 05/01/2025 for 24.00 hrs. No Parking Carter Road: Parking of all types of vehicles (except emergency service vehicles) on both the North and South bound of Carter Road from Otters Club to Cafe Coffee Day is prohibited. K.C. Marg: K.C. Marg Road is from Reclamation Best Bus Depot upto MSRDC all types of vehicles (except emergency service vehicles) on North and South bounds roads parking of vehicles is prohibited. Alternate Route Vehicular traffic going towards MSRDC by taking left turn from Reclamation Road, Zenda Point will go straight ahead take a U-turn before Toll Plaza and go on the North bound then take a left turn to proceed towards MSRDC. No Entry Road Reclamation Road South bound from Zenda Point, taking a left turn towards MSRDC will remain a no entry. Sources said that Mumbai Police has also planned elaborate security measures in parts of south Mumbai and traffic arrangements were also being planned in areas including Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Colaba, etc. Sources added that a large crowd is expected to gather at various places on the new year's eve, particularly at Gateway of India, Colaba, Marine Drive, Nariman Point area and various other sea fronts, beaches, hotels, clubs etc. which could result in slow traffic movement from late evening of December 31, 2024 till the early hours of January 1, 2025.
21 December,2024 06:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday hinted that his party might go solo in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections without exiting the Maha Vikas Aghadi, reported news agency PTI. Talking to reporters, Raut said party workers were insisting the organisation go solo in the local body polls, as there were more aspirants than for the Lok Sabha or state assembly polls. "Talks are on between Uddhav Thackeray and other party leaders (about whether to go solo) for the BMC polls. Workers want the party to contest the polls solo," he said, reported PTI. The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the cash-rich BMC for 25 consecutive years, from 1997 to 2022. The term of the previous elected representatives of the BMC ended in early March 2022, and fresh polls are due for nearly three years now. Raut said the party's power in Mumbai is undisputed. "If had we got more seats to contest in Mumbai (during the assembly polls), it would have won them," he said, claiming that it was necessary to win Mumbai or else the city would be separated from Maharashtra, reported PTI. The Shiv Sena contested 24 seats in Mumbai and won 10, while the Congress fielded candidates for 10 seats and bagged four, and the NCP (SP) contested two seats unsuccessfully. "Even when the (undivided) Shiv Sena was (in an alliance) with the BJP, we contested the BMC and other civic body polls independently. We are trying to find ways to do it. The MVA will exist in the Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nashik civic bodies," he said, reported PTI. Last week, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had said the Shiv Sena will contest the BMC polls, likely to be held next year, as part of the ruling Mahayuti. "The BMC polls will be contested as Mahayuti (alliance) in all 227 civic wards," said Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, reported PTI. The BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP are part of the Mahayuti alliance. (With inputs from PTI)
21 December,2024 02:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe death toll in the Elephanta boat tragedy has risen to 15 after the police recovered the body of a seven-year-old boy. “A seven-year-old boy had been missing since the incident. His body was recovered from the sea and has been identified as Zohan Pathan,” said DCP Zone 1, Dr. Pravin Munde. "Body of the missing boy has been found within Mumbai harbour. However search will continue till the ferry boat is made upright and confirmed no more unaccounted body in there" Defence PRO, Mumbai, said. The Navy has launched a probe into one of the deadliest crashes in the city's harbour area. A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to look for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, the official said.Of the 113 persons on board both the vessels, 14 died and 98, including two injured, were rescued. There were six persons on board the Navy craft, of which two survived, the official said. The tragedy struck when the speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' off near Mumbai coast. The ferry with more than 100 passengers was on its way from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction which has a collection of ancient caves. According to the documents issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), the boat had permission to carry 84 passengers and 6 crew members, but it was overloaded, a police official said. The MMB, which is conducting an investigation into the accident, has cancelled the licence of the ferry as the vessel was overloaded, thus violating the Inland Vessel Act. The ferry had a capacity of 90 persons, an official said. A case has been registered against the Navy craft driver at the Colaba police station, the official said. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections invoked in the FIR included those related to causing death by negligence, actions that endanger the personal safety or life of others, rash or negligent navigation of a vessel and acts of mischief that cause wrongful loss or damage to individuals or the public. The accident-affected craft is in the custody of the Navy and police will demand it whenever needed for investigation, the official said. (With inputs from Vinod Kumar Menon)
21 December,2024 02:04 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe Kurla court has remanded the accused bus driver, Sanjay More (54), to judicial custody. The Kurla police informed the court that they had completed their preliminary investigation and requested judicial custody for the accused. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles department has initiated the process of revoking the driving licence of the bus driver involved in the December 9 Kurla BEST bus accident, which left nine persons dead and around 40 injured, officials said. More will not be able to drive any vehicle once his licence, which he has held for the past 23 years, is revoked, the officials said. Days after the horrific Kurla BEST bus crash, a 22-year-old man, who was among the several persons injured in the accident, on Thursday succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll to nine, the civic officials said. The deceased was identified as Mehtab Shaikh, who had been undergoing medical treatment at a hospital for his injuries was declared dead at 11:45 am on Thursday, the officials said. The electric bus, hired by the civic-run Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking on a wet-lease basis, ploughed into a crowd and fatally knocked down seven persons and injured 42 others on a crowded road in the Kurla area on December 9. Several vehicles were also damaged in the incident. Following the incident, the BEST had set up a five-member committee to investigate the crash.
21 December,2024 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheThe Maharashtra industrial department will prepare norms and a system for inspecting industrial reactors, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative council on Saturday. Fadnavis was responding to the leader of the opposition Ambadas Danve's demand for drafting a policy for reactors on the line of boilers to prevent blasts and other accidents involving industrial workers. Danve mentioned such accidents in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, Nashik, and other industrial areas, raising concerns over the safety of workers employed in small units that use reactors. He demanded rules and policies for the regulation of reactors on lines of boilers. Fadnavis said the state industrial department will be immediately directed to frame norms and set up a system for the reactor inspection. An industrial reactor is a piece of equipment being used to create chemical reactions in various industries, including chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetics. Prison reforms bill passed by Maharashtra assembly; high-security jail to come up in Mumbai The Maharashtra legislative assembly on Friday passed a bill seeking to reform the prison system in the state. The Maharashtra Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2024, is based on the Model Prisons Bill, 2023, sent by the Centre to the states, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the House. A high-security prison and detention centre will be set up in Mumbai, while a new prison being built in Pune will be a two-storey facility, he added. A plot of land has been finalised for the new prison in Mumbai, the CM said. As many as 1,600 accused who have got bail continue to stay in prison in the state for the lack of money to pay for bail bond, he informed. The bill provides for categories of prisons such as special prison, open prison for women, temporary prison and open colony. Open prisons and open colonies will help with rehabilitation and reintegration of former jail inmates after their release, Fadnavis said. The bill also provides for the constitution of a 'prison and correctional prison force'. A welfare fund for prison staff and another fund for the welfare of prisoners is also an important feature of the legislation, the CM said. It also provides for better segregation of various categories of prisoners and their special needs as women, transgenders, under-trial prisoners, convicts, high-risk prisoners and habitual offenders. The bill also makes provisions for a grievance-redressal mechanism for prisoners, after-care rehabilitation service, and a separate women's ward in prison hospitals. An undertrial review committee will be set up in every district for periodical review of all undertrial prisoners and to take measures for speedy disposal of cases and make appropriate recommendations to trial courts. Technology including biometrics, closed-circuit television (CCTV), scanning and detection services, Radio Frequency Identification and video conference facilities will be used for effective management and supritendence of prisons and to ensure the safety of inmates, the CM said. The entire prison administration will be computerized, the chief minister said. (With inputs from PTI)
21 December,2024 01:50 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentPolice interrogated four persons in connection with suspected recce outside Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's bungalow and later released them after verifying that they were employees of a telecom network services company, an official said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. The men were employees of Insta ICT Solution, a telecom network services company, and were testing the network in the area on Saturday, the official said, reported PTI. He said four men were interrogated and later released after the police verified their roles and designation with the company. On Saturday, two men on a motorcycle were seen outside the Sena (UBT) leader's bungalow 'Maitri' in the Bhandup area around 9.30 am, reported PTI. Finding it suspicious, some people waiting outside the bungalow alerted Raut's younger brother, MLA Sunil Raut. Two men came on a two-wheeler, stopped outside the bungalow for some time and left the place, police had said. A team from Kanjurmarg police station soon reached the spot and launched a probe. Despite having majority why so much delay: Sanjay Raut questions Mahayuti govt on portfolio allocation Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday expressed concern over the delay in the allocation of portfolios in the Maharashtra Cabinet and questioned the Mahayuti government regarding the reason for the delay despite having an adequate majority, reported ANI. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut said, "What is happening in government, it's is difficult to understand. The government (Mahayuti government) has been formed but no portfolio has been allocated till now. There are a lot of law and order issues..who is accountable... despite having so much majority why is so much delay," reported ANI. The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 witnessed a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, securing a landslide win with 235 seats. The results marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and NCP also made notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. Mahayuti alliance consisted of BJP, Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar faction). Raut also criticized the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for transferring the cases involving Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi saying, "The PM Modi Government can give this case to ED and FBI because they can do anything, they file fake cases," reported ANI. On Thursday, both the NDA and INDIA bloc MPs staged a protest in Parliament premises when a scuffle broke out between the two sides, injuring two BJP MPs. Following the incident, BJP MPs, led by Anurag Thakur, lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police against Rahul Gandhi for "assault and incitement." Shortly after, a delegation of Congress MPs, including women MPs, approached Parliament Street Police, accusing BJP leaders of misbehaving with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during a scuffle in the Parliament premises. (With inputs from PTI and ANI)
21 December,2024 12:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday showed concern over the delay in the allocation of portfolios in the Maharashtra Cabinet and questioned the Mahayuti government regarding the reason for the delay despite having an adequate majority, ANI reported. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut said, "What is happening in government, it's is difficult to understand. The government (Mahayuti government) has been formed but no portfolio has been allocated till now. There are a lot of law and order issues..who is accountable... despite having so much majority why is so much delay." The Maharashtra Elections 2024 saw a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, by securing 230 seats. The win marked a significant milestone for the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. The Shiv Sena and NCP also secured notable gains, with 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The Mahayuti alliance consists of BJP, Ekanth Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Raut further accused PM Modi-led central government of transferring the cases involving the LoP Rahul Gandhi saying, "The PM Modi Government can give this case to ED and FBI because they can do anything, they file fake cases." On Thursday, both the NDA and INDIA bloc MPs staged a demonstration in the premises of the Parliament when a fight broke out between the two sides, injuring two BJP MPs, ANI reported. As per ANI, following the incident, BJP MPs, led by Anurag Thakur, lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police against Rahul Gandhi for "assault and incitement." Shortly after, a delegation of Congress MPs, including women MPs, approached Parliament Street Police and accused BJP politicians of misbehaving with Congress head Mallikarjun Kharge after a scuffle on Parliament grounds. Earlier, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant had claimed that there is "no delay" on cabinet portfolio distribution. After the Mahayuti leaders in Maharashtra took oath as ministers, Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant on December 17, had assured that the allocation of cabinet portfolios would be distributed within two days. He asserted that there was no delay, reported news agency ANI. "There is no delay. You will get to know about the portfolios ministers have received within two days," Samant told reporters. Speaking on the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal's resentment for being denied a ministerial berth, Shiv Sena leader Samant said, "We are all family and such things keep happening in a family. Our leaders including Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis will figure a way out." The Shiv Sena MLA said that the Maharashtra Assembly winter session was focused on the development of the Vidarbha region and the entire state, reported ANI. "Today is the first day (of Maharashtra assembly winter session). The newly appointed ministers will be introduced in the assembly and bills will be tabled. The session is in Vidarbha (region) and it is meant for the development of the region and (the entire) Maharashtra," Samant said, reported ANI. (With ANI inputs)
21 December,2024 12:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAn official said that the search operation launched by naval boats to locate a seven-year-old boy missing after a Navy craft rammed into a ferry off the Mumbai coast three days ago continued on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. The SAR (search and rescue) operation will continue at least till Saturday evening, the official said. With the recovery of the body of a 43-year-old man on Thursday evening, the death toll in the December 18 Elephanta boat tragedy rose to 14, reported PTI. The Navy has launched a probe into one of the deadliest crashes in the city's harbour area. A naval helicopter and boats of the Navy and Coast Guard were deployed to look for the missing passengers as part of the SAR operation, the official said. Of the 113 persons on board both the vessels, 14 died and 98, including two injured, were rescued. There were six persons on board the Navy craft, of which two survived, the official said. The tragedy struck when the speeding Navy craft undergoing engine trials lost control and collided with passenger ferry 'Neel Kamal' off near Mumbai coast. The ferry with more than 100 passengers was on its way from the Gateway of India to the Elephanta Island, a popular tourist attraction which has a collection of ancient caves. According to the documents issued by the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB), the boat had permission to carry 84 passengers and 6 crew members, but it was overloaded, a police official said, reported PTI. The MMB, which is conducting an investigation into the accident, has cancelled the licence of the ferry as the vessel was overloaded, thus violating the Inland Vessel Act. The ferry had a capacity of 90 persons, an official said. A case has been registered against the Navy craft driver at the Colaba police station, the official said, reported PTI. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections invoked in the FIR included those related to causing death by negligence, actions that endanger the personal safety or life of others, rash or negligent navigation of a vessel and acts of mischief that cause wrongful loss or damage to individuals or the public. The accident-affected craft is in the custody of the Navy and police will demand it whenever needed for investigation, the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
21 December,2024 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent"Family Arrangement", a term introduced in the Maharashtra State Co-operative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2019, will provide a faster remedy for transferring the share, rights, title and interest in a flat, when the original member, expire intestate (without leaving a will) and this will avoid the age-old practice of approaching the court to claim testamentary rights, which usually takes anywhere between six months to few years. Housing experts have informed and made suggestions to the state authorities to incorporate the process of family arrangements, in the yet-to-be-passed MSCS Rules and its bylaws. mid-day in its article titled ‘Need clarity on ownership rights in CHS’ highlighted State Housing Federation's calls for an explanation in housing society rules pertaining to nomination to clear misconception. Earlier practice Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, expert director, Maharashtra State Housing Federation “Before the insertion of the new chapter of housing societies, upon the death of the member, the person named in the nomination form was admitted as a nominee member who holds the flat in ‘Trust’ till all the legal heirs are brought on record as per the testamentary documents, succession certificate or legal heirship certificate from the court of competent jurisdiction,” said Advocate Shreeprasad Parab, expert director, Maharashtra State Housing Federation. The New Housing Chapter XIII-B which was inserted in the amended MSCS Act of 2019 under Section 154 B, has provided a separate provision for the transfer of share, right, title and interest in the property of the deceased member. What is Family Arrangement? “The term Family Arrangement can be explained by first defining what is Family i.e. family means a person related to each other by blood, law or affinity and thus the term Family Arrangement is an agreement that is made by the members of the family to distribute the property in the manner other than what is provided in the existing law,” said Parab. Provisional member “On the death of the member, the nominees shall apply to the society along with the death certificate within six months of the death of the member for the provisional membership of the society. If there is more than one nominee, they shall make a joint application to the society and indicate the name of the nominee who should be enrolled as a provisional member of the society. If no person has been nominated, then the society shall admit such a person as a provisional member,” said Parab. In case of sole legal heir “If there is a sole legal heir as per the personal succession laws then there is no family left out to execute the agreement therefore such sole legal heir has to proceed with the other three remedies (earlier practice) such as testamentary documents, succession certificate or legal heirship certificate,” said Parab. Mandatory registration When asked whether Family Arrangements need to be Registered, Parab said, “In Co-operative Housing Society, if the share, right, title and interest is transferred through a deed named as Family Arrangement then such deed shall be executed and registered under the provisions of the Registration Act, 1908.” Landmark judgement Citing a recent landmark judgement CA Ramesh Prabhu, founder chairman of Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association (MahaSEWA), said, “In a recent landmark judgment of the Bombay High Court in the case of M/s Bima Nagar Cooperative Housing Society v/s The Divisional Joint Registrar Co-Operative Soc. And Ors., the Hon'ble Court has held that as per Section 154B-13 of the MSCS Act of 2019, a release deed executed between the legal heirs is considered as “Family Arrangements.” This ruling has clarified the process of membership transfer in housing societies under Section 154B-13 of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act in the case of a member's demise by executing the Release deed”.
21 December,2024 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar MenonADVERTISEMENT
