Latest news with #PSs
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra: No personal secretaries for over six ministers, CM says ‘nothing to worry'
More than six months after the Mahayuti government assumed power in Maharashtra, over half a dozen Cabinet ministers continue to operate without officially appointed Personal Secretaries (PSs) and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis remains firm on withholding approvals for staff he deems 'corrupt' or 'fixers.' In February, Fadnavis had cleared 109 out of 125 names proposed by ministers for PS and OSD roles. As many as 16 names were withheld, with the Chief Minister citing 'serious concerns' — including pending inquiries and links to lobbying networks operating within Mantralaya. According to sources, the delay has affected several senior ministers, including Ganesh Naik, Shambhuraj Desai, Chhagan Bhujbal, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Datta Bharne, who continue to function without full-time staff. While some of the proposed appointees have returned to their parent departments, others are assisting ministers unofficially. When the CM was asked about the delays in appointment of PSs and OSDs to over half a dozen ministers, he told mediapersons: 'There is nothing to worry about it'. According to service rules, each Cabinet minister is entitled to a personal staff of 16 and ministers of state to 14. However, the CM's Office has insisted on close vetting, particularly objecting to staff who had served in earlier governments and developed proximity to political intermediaries. A senior bureaucrat said, 'There were staffers who had been in the system for years and were seen as power centres. The CM wants a Mantralaya free of dalals (middlemen).' The CMO also held a two-day training session for approved PSs and OSDs in Pune, earlier this year, underlining expectations for professionalism and integrity. Tensions had surfaced publicly recently in February when Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate of the NCP had openly expressed dissatisfaction, stating that ministers had no say in appointing even their personal secretaries and PAs. Ministers have privately complained that the vetting process is being selectively applied with most rejected staffers said to be nominees of alliance partners and not the BJP. Despite criticism, Fadnavis in February had said that his priority is clean governance. 'Fixers will not be allowed to operate through ministerial staff,' he had said.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Thrills galore as Wicklow Cumann na mBunscol holds annual sports day
Wicklow People Today at 03:30 Wednesday saw schools from all over Wicklow take part in the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Sports Day in Charlesland Sports and Recreation Park in Greystones – and the competition for prizes got underway in no time! The day began with a parade around the track, with each school displaying their banner, wearing their school's colours with pride, and singing Amhrán na bhFiann. The best-turned-out school was Greystones Educate Together, and they received the inaugural Ó Broin Cup from its namesake, Ciarán Byrne, who gave many years of service to not only the promotion of Gaelic games in PSs in Wicklow, but also on a national level when he served as National PRO of Cumann na mBunscol.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nagpur ZP, Panchayat Samiti Elections Get Green Light; Ward Formation Deadline Set
Nagpur: The Maharashtra govt has initiated the long-awaited process to hold general elections for zilla parishads (ZPs) and panchayat samitis (PSs), including Nagpur, whose bodies were dissolved earlier this year on January 17. A detailed order was issued on Thursday, outlining the steps and deadlines to determine new ward boundaries ahead of the polls. In an official communication dated June 12, the state issued orders to determine the number of members and draw fresh ward boundaries for all affected rural local bodies. District collectors have been empowered to carry out this critical groundwork as part of the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti General Election (Number of Members, Ward Composition) Order, 2025. The process includes fixing the number of members for each ZP and PS, which is currently at 57 and 114 respectively, and dividing constituencies based on the rural population of each district as per the latest Census 2011. The state has made it clear that natural boundaries and geographical continuity must be considered during ward formation, and care should be taken not to divide existing gram panchayats or tribal settlements wherever possible. Importantly, the state has also issued a strict confidentiality clause, prohibiting any premature disclosure of the ward structure before the official draft is released. Officers violating this could face disciplinary action. The entire exercise has been put on a fast track, with a fixed five-phase schedule, so that elections can be held within four months. Citizens are encouraged to participate actively during the feedback phase to ensure transparency and representation. The State Election Commission will supervise the final approval and publication of ward maps before poll dates are announced. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
