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The Bombay High Court sustains the obligatory Marathi signboard law

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The Maharashtra government’s decision to require Marathi signage on commercial premises across the state has been maintained by the Bombay High Court. On February 23, 2022, the High Court dismissed a plea filed by a retail merchants organization challenging the state government’s order.

The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) had filed a writ case against the Maharashtra government’s rule before the Bombay High Court. The Maharashtra MVA government endorsed a cabinet motion in January this year mandating that all shops in the state prominently display a signboard in Marathi. A similar law was passed by the state government in 2017, however, it was not implemented according to the rules.

The Bombay High Court ruled that the requirement of mandatory Marathi signboards did not contradict the Indian Constitution’s Article 14 provisions. “Marathi is Maharashtra’s native tongue, and a provision requiring mandatory Marathi signboards outside any shop or other location cannot be called discrimination,” the High Court said. The petitioners have been fined Rs 25,000/-, which will be placed in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The announcement comes only days before the state’s Marathi Rajbhasha Din (Marathi Day) on February 27.

Signboards in Marathi are monarchs.

The MVA government in Maharashtra, led by the Shiv-Sena, enacted a rule in January 2021 that required conspicuous Marathi typography on signboards printed in Devanagari script outside all commercial businesses. Devendra Fadnavis’ government amended the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act in 2017. Small Marathi nameplates were placed against large English characters on the boards when the previous rule was applied.

Marathi letters must henceforth be the same size as those in other scripts, according to a new guideline. “The Maharashtra administration has decided that all shops shall have name boards in Marathi,” state industries minister Subhash Desai stated. This should be written in a large, legible typeface. In 2017, the decision was made to place Marathi name boards on storefronts. However, it was not being implemented on the ground. As a result, the Cabinet decided today to put it into action.”

Commercial interests had criticized the move, and it was claimed that the decision was made in the run-up to the state’s approaching Municipal Corporation elections. The move has been a long-standing desire of the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena, led by Raj Thackeray, and has been a prominent issue in the state’s Marathi politics.

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The Tenth Tata Mumbai Marathon Was Completed By NMMC Commissioner

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Dr. Kailas Shinde, Commissioner of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), has accomplished a remarkable feat by finishing the Tata Mumbai Marathon for the ninth year in a row.

Thousands of runners from all around the world attended this year’s marathon, which was held on Sunday to commemorate the famous event’s 20th anniversary. Dr. Shinde further demonstrated his dedication to endurance and fitness by finishing the difficult 42.195 km race in an astounding 4 hours, 29 minutes, and 12 seconds.

As evidence of his commitment to regular training and preparation, Dr. Shinde maintained a constant pace of 6 minutes and 23 seconds per kilometer throughout the marathon, which started at 5:00 a.m. at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai.

This year’s achievement comes after Dr. Shinde’s outstanding performance in the Comrades Marathon, an ultramarathon in South Africa, when he exceeded the time limit by finishing the 86.6 km route in 11 hours, 10 minutes, and 56 seconds. His reputation as a focused and dedicated athlete was further solidified by this accomplishment.

Dr. Shinde has continuously put his training first despite his hectic administrative job and rigorous schedule, demonstrating that amazing outcomes are possible when hard effort, goal-setting, and preparation are balanced. In addition to reflecting his own accomplishments, his love of running provides as motivation for leading a healthy lifestyle.

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Residents Of Kharghar Express Concern Over The Increasing Number Of Roadside Shops And Encroachments

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Residents of Kharghar are raising serious concerns over the growing encroachments and unauthorized shops in Sectors 30 to 40, which are causing inconvenience and safety issues. Locals have shared photographs showing illegal roadside stalls selling clothes, fruits, coconuts, and snacks, taking over footpaths and parking spaces.

One image shows a clothing shop operating from a car boot, while another captures coconut vendors blocking a busy intersection. A third photo highlights a snack stall covered with plastic sheets, further restricting pedestrian movement, especially under the newly constructed metro bridge.

Frustrated residents say these illegal setups are disrupting daily life. “We pay taxes for planned infrastructure, but these encroachments create chaos,” said Radhe Trivedi, a local.

Arvind Pawar, another resident, said multiple complaints to the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) and CIDCO have seen little action. “We need stricter enforcement to remove illegal hawkers and restore order,” he added.

Citizens have taken to social media to highlight the issue, tagging government officials, including the Chief Minister’s Office of Maharashtra and MLA Prashant Thakur, demanding intervention.

Resident Lalita Iyer emphasized the need for long-term solutions to prevent future encroachments and protect Kharghar’s planned urban development.

With growing pressure from residents, authorities are now being urged to take immediate and strict action to remove these unauthorized commercial activities and restore public spaces to their proper use.

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The Marathi Language Conservation Fortnight Is Being Celebrated By NMMC With A Self-Poetry Recitation Competition

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NMMC Hosts Self-Poetry Recitation Competition To Celebrate Marathi Language Conservation Fortnight.

The Competition

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) held a self-poetry reciting competition to support officials’ and staff members’ poetic writing abilities. The occasion was a component of the two-week-long Marathi Language Conservation campaign.

Thirty-one poets took part in this event. From January 14 to January 28, the city government has organized a number of events to promote the Marathi language.

Ashok Gupte, a well-known poet and the grandson of the famed poet Bee, judged the self-poetry reciting competition. Gupte urged the poets to continue their commitment to producing high-caliber poetry. Despite their hectic work schedules, he commended the cops and staff for fostering their literary abilities.

The poet was especially grateful of the female staff members who had worked hard and passionately to develop their literary skills while juggling work and domestic duties. Gupte stressed the significance of delivery and presentation. He emphasized that there should be a natural rhythm and flow even in free verse poetry. According to an official, he encouraged contestants to keep competing, read quality poetry, and keep composing. During the occasion, Gupte also read a few of his own outstanding poetry.

The NMMC headquarters will host a lecture on “Mayboli Abhijat Marathi” by famous poet and writer Dr. Mahesh Keluskar. Navi Mumbai literature lovers are welcome to come and take part in this thought-provoking discussion.

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