Maharashtra Cabinet has taken a big decision before the local body elections. The Cabinet approved the proposal to finalize the decision of election officials on nomination papers in Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections. Under this approval, it was agreed to bring an ordinance to make changes in the 1961 law, so that the elections of these local bodies are held on time.
In the meeting, changes were approved in Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti Act, 1961. This step has been taken just before the elections for these rural local self-government bodies.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was approved in the cabinet meeting chaired by. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said that the purpose of this decision is to ensure that the elections of Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samitis are held on time and as scheduled.
Instructions to conduct civic elections by January 31
Under the existing provision of Section 14(2) of the Act, candidates could appeal to the District Courts against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by the election officers. But, because many such appeals remained pending in different district courts for different periods of time, elections could not be held in the stipulated timeframe.
The State Election Commission had proposed to the government to remove this provision. According to this, this amendment empowers the State Government to make rules for such elections and makes the decision of the election officers on accepting or rejecting the nomination papers final.
According to a directive of the Supreme Court, elections for 336 Panchayat Committees and 32 District Councils spread across Maharashtra are to be held by January 31.
Formation of committee under the chairmanship of Culture Minister
In the meeting, it was decided to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of the Culture Minister to stop encroachment on state protected monuments like forts and citadels in the state. According to this decision, the scope of the provisions related to removal of encroachment on forts and forts in the previous government decision of the Culture Department has been expanded. Now it has been decided to include state protected monuments also in it.
The Cabinet has approved the formation of a state level committee to remove encroachments on all forts and state-protected monuments in the state and to prevent future encroachments. The Culture Minister will be the chairman of this committee. The committee will include Revenue Minister, Rural Development Minister, Tourism Minister, Public Works Minister, Forest Minister, Ports and Development Minister as well as Secretaries, Principal Secretaries or Additional Chief Secretaries of the concerned departments.
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