The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis Act, 1961, making the decision of the election returning officer on nomination papers final in district council and panchayat samiti elections.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The amendment seeks to ensure that elections to zilla parishads and panchayat samitis are conducted within stipulated timelines, as prolonged legal proceedings have been causing delays.
Under the existing provision in Section 14(2) of the Act, candidates whose nomination papers were accepted or rejected could file appeals before district courts. However, such appeals often remained pending for varying periods across districts, leading to delays in the election process.
The State Election Commission had proposed the removal of this provision to enable timely conduct of elections. Following this, the Cabinet approved the issuance of the Maharashtra Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, empowering the state government to frame rules for such elections and declaring the decision of the Returning Officer on nomination papers as final.
Cabinet approves panel to curb encroachments at state-protected monuments
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved the formation of a state-level committee under the chairmanship of the Cultural Affairs Minister to prevent and remove encroachments at state-protected monuments, on the lines of existing measures for forts.
The decision expands the scope of a government resolution issued on January 20, 2025, which dealt with the removal of encroachments on forts, to now include state-protected monuments.
The Maharashtra Cabinet has cleared the constitution of a state-level committee to oversee the removal of existing encroachments and prevent future ones at forts and protected monuments across Maharashtra. Apart from the Cultural Affairs Minister as chairperson, the committee will include the Revenue Minister, Rural Development Minister, Tourism Minister, Public Works Minister, Forest Minister, Ports and Development Minister, along with senior officials such as secretaries, principal secretaries or additional chief secretaries of the concerned departments.
The cabinet also approved the inclusion of four special invitee members in the state-level committee and four non-official members in district-level committees. These members must be experts in forts and monuments, or individuals and organisations working in the field of heritage conservation and preservation.
At the district level, the responsibility of removing encroachments at forts and state-protected monuments will rest with the district collectors, who will carry out the action in coordination with departments owning the land. Expenditure for such activities will be met from the District Planning and Development Fund, the Cabinet decision stated.
