Do you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for December 30. Aries March 21 – April 20A surfeit of ideas emerge while travelling to work, with you hurriedly noting them down. Cosmic tip: Forgive a relationship issue totally since issues are clearer over time and both were at fault. TaurusApril 21 – May 20You do want to help, but the situation is a little awkward since you know both people well and don’t want to sit in judgement either. Cosmic tip: Continue taking care of general health. GeminiMay 21 – June 21You are quite right about a matter not being so straight and simple as it appears. Tread carefully.Cosmic tip: Enjoy the family dinner with good company and good food. Cancer June 22 – July 23There’s a point all agree to, which takes talks about property further towards a solution. Work at the office is challenging, but enjoyable. Cosmic tip: Think carefully before speaking. Leo July 24 - Aug 23This karmic cycle supports financial decisions. Seeking advice reveals the person’s views are conflicting with yours.Cosmic tip: Make a decision without overthinking. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Don’t get involved in an argument with an authority figure. Choose a sustainable hobby if planning to take it up. Cosmic tip: Be in control of thoughts and emotions, living in the present moment. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22A friend who tends to overreact wants to come over. Ease out of it diplomatically, citing work as inability to meet. Cosmic tip: Understand a family issue completely first before sharing an opinion. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22A day of delays begins almost first thing in the morning. Be wise. Allow an issue to rest. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Be straightforward instead of using someone else as an excuse. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22Completing some must-do chores is put off till the last moment. An anxiously awaited message is received.Cosmic tip: First, respect your own feelings as they are important. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Singles in a relationship are in two minds about when to give and receive a commitment. Advice from an older woman is worth listening to. Cosmic tip: Refrain from discussing your goals with anyone. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Discussing dreams and ambitions may not be a good idea, especially if the person only takes their own hopes and desires seriously. Cosmic tip: Don’t take up a challenge. It’s not at all wise. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Don’t discuss your deepest fears with anyone as this gives energy to just those thoughts.Cosmic tip: Be grateful, when remembering all that’s going right for you. This helps extend this positive karmic cycle.
30 December,2025 02:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest on 137 seats while its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena will fight on 90 of the 227 municipal wards in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Election, slated to be held on January 15, 2026. The announcement was made by BJP’s Mumbai head Ameet Satam late on Monday evening. Satam said that the leaders of both the parties will campaign together for the Mahayuti alliance. Satam further said that the Ramdas Athawale-led Republican Party of India (RPI-Athawale) and other allies will be given seats from the BJP and Shiv Sena's share. He also clarified that there is no anger among the allies over seat allocation. mid-day.com had on December 26 reported that the BJP was keen to contest around 145 seats, as this would put it close to the halfway mark of 114 seats needed to win control of the 227-member Mumbai civic body on its own. BJP had offered around 80 seats and was unwilling to concede any more. However, the seat-sharing has been finalised between the two allies, with the BJP conceding a few seats to the Shinde-led party. BMC Election 2026: BJP announces first list of 70 candidates Meanwhile, BJP released its first list of 70 candidates for BMC Election 2026 earlier on Monday, a day before the deadline to file nominations ends. While the list includes some corporators who won the BMC polls in 2017, prominent among the nominees is the BJP's state media chief Navnath Ban, 38, who is the youngest among the contestants. Ban will contest from ward number 135 in Shivajinaar area. Elections to 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the high-stakes Mumbai, will be held on January 15, and votes will be counted the next day. In the BMC elections held in 2017 for 227 seats, the BJP made giant strides in the Shiv Sena citadel of Mumbai, winning 82 seats, just two seats behind the estranged ally Shiv Sena (undivided). The Congress was relegated to the third position with 31 seats, whereas the NCP (undivided) and Raj Thackeray's MNS were reduced to 9 and 7 seats, respectively. AIMIM had won three seats on debut, Samajwadi Party six, Akhil Bhartiya Sena one, and Independents four. A total of 357 nomination papers were filed on the penultimate day for filing of nominations for BMC polls on Monday, taking the cumulative tally to 401 so far. (With PTI inputs)
29 December,2025 11:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has distributed 1,225 nomination papers for the BMC Election 2026 as of Monday, with 357 papers filed by candidates so far, officials said. The nomination process began on December 23 across 23 election officer offices in the city. Distribution will continue on Tuesday from 11 am to 4 pm, while nominations will be accepted until 5 pm on the same day. A total of 4,165 nomination papers were distributed on December 23; 2,844 on December 24; 2,040 on December 26; and 1,294 on December 27. Across the first five days, 11,568 papers were distributed in total. On Monday, a total of 401 nominations were filed, officials said. Division-wise distribution and filing of nomination papers A + B + E divisions (RO 23): 69 distributed/26 filed C + D divisions (RO 22): 19/7 F South Division (RO 21): 23/8 G South Division (RO 20): 71/7 G North Division (RO 19): 52/22 F North Division (RO 18): 50/13 L Division (RO 17): 36/14 L Division (RO 16): 62/18 M East Division (RO 15): 54/19 M East + M West divisions (RO 14): 69/11 N Division (RO 13): 36 / 23 S Division (RO 12): 57 / 7 T Division (RO 11): 75/19 H East Division (RO 10): 68/19 K East + H West divisions (RO 9): 74/8 K West + K East divisions (RO 8): 78/17 K West Division (RO 7): 79/29 P South Division (RO 6): 44/11 P East Division (RO 5): 86/19 P North Division (RO 4): 20/29 R South Division (RO 3): 44/14 R Central Division (RO 2): 13/4 R North Division (RO 1): 46/13 Total: 1,225 distributed/357 filed. The state election commission (SEC) has mandated that candidates submit their nomination papers within the prescribed timeline, and the BMC is facilitating distribution and receipt across all wards. The BMC Election 2026 comes after a long delay of over 34 months since the previous term ended in February 2022 without elected corporators. SEC has announced elections for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on January 15, 2026. Polling will be held from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, and counting of votes will take place on January 16, 2026. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force on December 15, 2025, across all municipal corporation areas.
29 December,2025 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAFTER nearly eight years behind barricades, Sane Guruji Udyan in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, has finally reopened for public use, bringing a sense of relief among residents. The garden had been shut and occupied by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for the construction of the Siddhivinayak Metro Station, a key stop on the Aqua Line of the Mumbai Metro network. For residents living around Prabhadevi and Dadar West, the reopening marks the return of one of the few accessible green lungs in an otherwise congested urban pocket. Morning walkers, senior citizens, and families with young children appeared happy to reclaim a space that had remained inaccessible for almost a decade. “We live near the Parel depot. There is not a single park near our home. This was the nearest one. For so many years, when the park was closed, we had to take our kids all the way to Shivaji Park, which is far and also quite polluted, due to dust from the ground and ongoing construction activities. We are happy that we can bring our children to play here at least on the weekends, though the garden is now smaller in size,” said Mahesh Pednekar. Some disappointment However, the joy is tempered with disappointment. Locals point out that a substantial portion of the garden has been permanently taken over by the entry and exit gates of the Metro station, significantly reducing the usable green space. “We waited for so many years to get the garden back, but what we have received is much smaller than what existed earlier,” said Meenakshi Jagtap, a resident who has lived in the area for over three decades. Residents have also expressed concern over the loss of trees during the construction period. According to them, the reduced tree cover has led to noticeably higher dust levels within the garden premises, especially during peak hours. “Earlier, dense trees acted as a natural barrier against dust and pollution. Now, the air feels heavier, and the garden does not offer the same comfort it once did,” said Sakshi More, another resident. Adding to the concerns is the playground adjacent to the garden, which remains uneven and unlevelled. Parents complain that the condition of the ground makes it unsafe for children to play, defeating the purpose of having a designated public play area. “The garden may have reopened, but children still don’t have a proper space to run and play,” said Jagtap. Activist speak Urban planners and environmental activists have once again raised a larger question — whether infrastructure development should come at the cost of open and green spaces, particularly at a time when Mumbai’s pollution levels are steadily rising. Activists argue that while Metro projects are essential for sustainable transport, they should not permanently eat into scarce open spaces in densely populated neighbourhoods. Activist Zoru Bhathena said, “About 130 trees were removed from the Siddhivinayak Metro station site. And large chunks of this green open space have been eaten into to build the Metro. Green spaces are extremely rare in Mumbai and should never have been touched. Eating into green spaces for a Metro is only the easy way out. Anyone can visit the Kalbadevi Metro station and see how nicely it is built, without encroaching on any green open space.” Crowd accommodation Siddhivinayak temple committee has erected poles inside the garden and the adjacent ground to accommodate the huge crowd that is expected to line up on January 1 and 6 to take darshan on the New Year and the first Angarika of the New Year, respectively. “The garden won’t be shut for visitors, and we have just utilised a small area. Using the ground and garden will help avoid the rush spilling onto the road and creating traffic issues,” said Pawan Tripathi, a committee member of Siddhivinayak temple.
29 December,2025 09:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Ashish Raje | Ritika GondhalekarWith days remaining for the BMC Election 2026, Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) General Secretary (GS) Snehal Jadhav on Monday resigned from the party, citing differences over the announcement of the candidate for Mumbai's ward 192. In her resignation letter addressed to MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Jadhav wrote, "I am resigning from the post of General Secretary and from party membership due to not being taken into confidence regarding the candidacy for ward No. 192, and also because I was excluded from this process, even though my husband and I served as corporators from this ward for four consecutive terms between 1997 and 2017." Snehal Jadhav served as a corporator for three consecutive terms from 1992 to 1997, 1997 to 2002, and 2002 to 2007. Later, her husband was elected as a corporator from 2007 to 2012. In a statement, Jadhav said that she did not receive the expected respect and justice from the party, despite maintaining direct contact with the public at the local level and pursuing development work.
29 December,2025 09:29 PM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSWith tickets for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other municipal corporation elections being announced, all political parties faced some rebellion from unhappy aspirants. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde handled the situation better than their rivals. In contrast, Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray struggled to pacify and keep their upset workers together. According to sources, citing that she was not taken into confidence while allotting seats, MNS leader Snehal Jadhav is said to have expressed her displeasure with the party leadership, and there was buzz of her resigning from the party too. Similarly, two office bearers of the Shiv Sena (UBT) from Worli, an Assembly constituency represented by Aaditya Thackeray, are also said to have stepped down from their official positions. The problem was not limited to Mumbai. The Shiv Sena (UBT) reportedly faced serious internal issues in Solapur and some other municipal corporations as well. In another development, Rakhee Jadhav, the Mumbai unit chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), quit the party and joined the BJP. She was later given a BJP ticket. However, former BJP minister Prakash Mehta is said to be unhappy with this decision. The BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena also saw discontent among some aspirants who did not make it to the final list. But till the time of going to press, there were no reports of party workers or office bearers quitting, except for one case from Borivli. Former BJP corporator Asawari Patil, who was denied a ticket, quit the BJP and joined the Shiv Sena (UBT). She was immediately given a ticket by Uddhav Thackeray’s party. According to BJP leaders, the party has given local MLAs and office bearers the responsibility of pacifying disgruntled aspirants and leaders. In the case of the MNS, party chief Raj Thackeray personally called a meeting of office-bearers and leaders to limit the damage and send a message of unity. However, no such visible efforts were seen on the ground from the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp. Party insiders said that while there may have been backdoor efforts, such as phone calls to convince unhappy workers, there was no open or organised outreach to address the unrest. Former mayor and senior Sena UBT leader Kishori Pendenkar claimed that her party is such that for years, and in every election, there are several aspirants, but only one gets a ticket. “Those who are upset express their displeasure, but from the very next moment start working for the party. After all, they are loyal and committed sainiks,” she said, refuting claims of major unrest and its impact on the poll outcome. Meanwhile, like in Mumbai, the Congress has decided to contest the Thane polls independently and not as part of the Shiv Sena (UBT)-Sharad Pawar’s NCP and MNS alliance. The BJP and Shinde Sena too could not come to an amicable solution for an alliance in many municipal corporations, including Navi Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
29 December,2025 09:14 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarOn the anniversary of the Kamala Mills fire on December 29, 2017, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued fire safety guidelines for citizens and establishments ahead of New Year 2026 celebrations. The blaze that started at the first-floor bar Mojo Bistro in Kamala Mills at central Mumbai had claimed the lives of 14 people. With parties, events, and programmes planned across the city, the civic officials emphasised on the importance of fire vigilance to prevent accidents and loss of life. Guidelines for establishment owners and event organisers The BMC and Mumbai Fire Brigade have advised all event organisers and establishment owners to- - Ensure fire safety equipment like alarms, extinguishers, sprinkler systems, and risers are functional. - Keep emergency exits unobstructed and doors unlocked. - Install clear directional signboards for evacuation. - Inspect gas connections and electrical systems, particularly in kitchens. - Avoid storing excess LPG cylinders. - Ensure premises are not overcrowded beyond permitted capacity. - Strictly prohibit firecrackers, fireworks, fire games, smoking, and hookah. - Use fire-retardant materials for decoration and avoid combustible materials. - Follow all measures prescribed under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006. Advisory for citizens The BMC has also urged citizens to avoid overcrowding at event venues, the Mumbai civic body stated that the citizens must - - Familiarise themselves with emergency exits and escape routes. - Ensure that establishments comply with fire safety norms. - Refrain from fireworks, decorative pyrotechnics, fire games, smoking or hookah at venues. Public safety and awareness The officials said that the advisory was issued in the public interest to raise fire safety awareness and encourage public vigilance during New Year celebrations. Mumbai Fire Brigade inspects establishments Last week, the Mumbai Fire Brigade has so far inspected 907 establishments such as hotels, restaurants, bars and eateries under its ‘Special Fire Safety Campaign’, issued notices to 16 establishments, and taken action against 41 others, officials said on Saturday. The inspections were carried out between December 22 and December 25, 2025. In a statement issued on Saturday, the BMC said, "Various programmes and celebrations are organised at different hotels, pubs, bars, residential complexes and buildings, and beaches in Mumbai to welcome the New Year. Large numbers of people gather for these events. Against this backdrop, and to ensure greater precautions regarding fire safety, a ‘Special Fire Safety Campaign’ is being implemented from December 22, 2025, to December 28, 2025, as per the instructions of Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani." Additional Municipal Commissioner in charge of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Ashwini Joshi, said, "This campaign is being conducted by the Mumbai Fire Brigade. If establishments are found not to have complied with fire safety terms and conditions, action is being taken against them under the provisions of the ‘Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006’." Inspections conducted Under this initiative, a total of 907 establishments were inspected up to December 25, 2025, including 10 malls, 25 five-star hotels, 59 lodging and boarding establishments, 19 rooftop establishments, 148 pubs, bars and clubs, 12 party halls, five gymkhanas, and 628 restaurants. "Total inspections carried out from 22/12/2025 to 26/12/2025 are 1221 out of that 1146 are found complied, notices issued to 20 and action taken on 59. However, action also taken on four establishments who are found fire safety complied for storing one or two excess L.P.G. cylinders," an official had earlier said.
29 December,2025 08:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly put up posters with the slogans ‘Namo Bharat, Namo Thane’ for the upcoming Thane Municipal Corporation elections on January 15, prompting criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Rajan Vichare, reported the PTI. Addressing a press conference, Vichare said that the BJP lacks a local candidate for Thane and is relying solely on the central leadership. Thane stronghold of Shiv Sena Vichare stated that Thane has long been a stronghold of the Shiv Sena, with citizens following the ideology of Bal Thackeray and Anand Dighe. He questioned the BJP’s approach, stating: "The BJP remembers Thane only when elections are near. If the party truly believes in development, it should highlight its work rather than mislead people with slogans centred on the Namo banner," according to the PTI. He added that for over 30 years, Shiv Sena has maintained a deep connection with Thane, reflected in the slogan: ‘Shiv Sena's Thane and Thane's Shiv Sena’. Posters do not feature images of Balasaheb Thackeray: Vichare Vichare also pointed out that the BJP posters do not feature images of Balasaheb Thackeray or Anand Dighe, the latter of whom is considered a mentor by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "The Thane Municipal Corporation polls will be fought on the Thackeray brand, not the Namo brand. Voters are aware of the city’s issues and will respond accordingly," he said, as per the PTI. NCP (SP) Mumbai chief Rakhi Jadhav joins BJP Meanwhile, in a setback to the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (SP), its Mumbai unit president Rakhi Jadhav on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the January 15 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, the PTI reported. Jadhav formally entered the BJP in the presence of MLA Parag Shah, and is likely to contest on the ruling party's ticket from Ghatkopar. The move has dealt a blow to the NCP (SP) at a time when discussions were underway over its possible electoral understanding in Mumbai. Political circles had been abuzz over the alliance options before the NCP (SP) in the civic polls, with the Uddhav Thackeray-Raj Thackeray combine and the Congress being the two possibilities, the news agency reported. However, even as talks on an alliance were on, the BJP inducted Jadhav, widening the cracks in the party during the election season. During the split in the NCP in July 2023, Jadhav had chosen to stay with the NCP (SP). (with PTI inputs)
29 December,2025 08:46 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Monday asked party workers and office-bearers to set aside their differences and work unitedly with Shiv Sena (UBT) to ensure the alliance’s victory in the BMC Election 2026 scheduled for January 15, reported the PTI. Addressing party workers at Rangasharda auditorium, Raj Thackeray said the elections were crucial to "save Mumbai". Raj Thackeray warned that some people harboured ambitions to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra and said such attempts must be defeated. Quoting him, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar said, "The dream of breaking Mumbai must be destroyed. Mumbai belongs to the Marathi manoos and Maharashtra. This election is extremely important for the Marathi manoos. No fight is bigger than Maharashtra," according to the PTI. Alliance dharma must be followed Thackeray stressed the need to follow alliance dharma, noting that every seat was important in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. "Keep differences aside to save Mumbai. Party workers and local functionaries must campaign for Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) candidates. This support will be reciprocated by Shiv Sena (UBT)," he said. He added that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP SP) would also be part of the alliance. Nomination process and internal issues Nandgaonkar said AB forms, required for filing nominations as official party candidates, would be distributed on Monday. He added that last-minute talks were still under way for a couple of wards. Acknowledging that some party workers were unhappy after missing out on nominations due to the alliance, Nandgaonkar urged them not to lose heart. "This is not the last election. Workers should remain committed and focused," he said. Poll schedule The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections will be held on January 15. The last date for filing nominations is December 30, while votes will be counted on January 16. MNS announces first candidate from Dadar Meanwhile, MNS President Raj Thackeray on Monday formally kickstarted the party's campaign and announced its first candidate for the civic polls. Senior MNS leader and party spokesperson Yashwant Killedar has been handed the ‘AB form’ to contest from the Dadar (Shivaji Park) area, news agency IANS reported. Killedar is considered to be one of the party’s key leaders. The announcement from MNS comes amid heightened political activity in Mumbai, with major parties in the process of finalising seat-sharing arrangements for the civic polls. By issuing the AB form from Dadar, the MNS leadership has indicated that the party is preparing to intensify its ground-level mobilisation in traditional Marathi-dominated pockets of the city. (with PTI inputs)
29 December,2025 08:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia’s commercial banking sector remained resilient during 2024-25 and so far in 2025-26, supported by double-digit balance sheet expansion and a steady improvement in asset quality, with the gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio declining to a multi-decadal low of 2.1 per cent at the end of September 2025, news agency IANS reported, citing a Reserve Bank of India (RBI) report released on Monday. The RBI, in its report titled Trend and Progress of Banking in India, said deposits and credit of scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) continued to grow in double digits, although the pace moderated compared to the previous year. Asset quality strengthened further during the period, with the GNPA ratio declining from 2.2 per cent by the end of March to 2.1 per cent at September-end, reflecting improved recovery and better credit discipline across the banking system, IANS reported. The profitability of SCBs remained robust in 2024-25, with the return on assets (RoA) at 1.4 per cent and return on equity (RoE) at 13.5 per cent. During the first half of 2025-26, the RoA and RoE stood at 1.3 per cent and 12.5 per cent, respectively, the report said. Capital adequacy levels also remained strong. The capital-to-risk-weighted assets ratio of SCBs was 17.4 per cent at March-end and 17.2 per cent at September-end, indicating adequate buffers to absorb potential shocks, IANS reported. The RBI report noted that the consolidated balance sheet of urban co-operative banks recorded higher growth in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. Asset quality of urban co-operative banks improved for the fourth consecutive year, alongside strengthening of their capital buffers and profitability. RBI highlights strong capital buffers, improved asset quality across sector Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) continued to record double-digit credit growth during the year, supported by robust capital buffers. Their asset quality also showed improvement, the report said. According to the RBI’s assessment, banks and NBFCs remain resilient, backed by strong capital positions, improved asset quality and robust earnings. This has enabled continued credit flow to productive sectors of the economy as well as to underserved segments. The central bank said it continues to promote secure and interoperable digital payments within the country and their integration with global payment systems. It is also enabling responsible adoption of technology and the use of alternative data to expand financial inclusion. The RBI added that its regulatory and supervisory policies remain focused on reinforcing cybersecurity, mitigating fraud, enhancing customer protection, integrating climate risk awareness and preserving financial stability as an overarching goal. Going forward, regulations and macroprudential policies are being aligned to further strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the banking sector while promoting ease of doing business. Balancing financial innovation with stability, strengthening public trust and supporting sustainable development will continue to guide the Reserve Bank’s policy approach, the report said. (With IANS inputs)
29 December,2025 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (South Mumbai) has dismissed a law student’s complaint against the registrar of the Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court, ruling that judicial administrative functions do not fall under the ambit of “commercial services,” news agency PTI reported. The commission noted that the court does not operate as a commercial enterprise to supply certified copies for profit. “It administers justice and maintains court records,” the panel asserted. The 27-year-old law graduate had filed the complaint in 2018, alleging “deficiency in service” after the registrar delayed providing certified copies of proceedings in a civil matter, PTI reported. Delivering its verdict on December 11, the consumer panel said the relationship between a litigant and a court registry “is not a contractual or commercial relationship in the ordinary sense”. It added that this statutory relationship is governed by procedural rules and the civil manual, not consumer laws. “Consumer fora are not designed to supervise judicial administration or the internal workings of courts. The complaint is an attempt to transpose an administrative-judicial grievance into a consumer dispute,” the commission stated. 'Statutory court functions beyond consumer forum’s jurisdiction' It further clarified that the law does not permit such transposition when the underlying acts are statutory or judicial and fees are statutory in nature, PTI reported. The commission said grievances against a court’s registry should be addressed within the judicial system itself, such as through an application to the judge concerned, a complaint to the additional registrar, or a writ petition in the high court. The complainant had claimed that after applying for certified copies of proceedings in a 2002 suit and paying an initial deposit of Rs 200, the registry delayed delivery of the documents. The registrar argued that the complainant was not a party to the original suit and required a judicial order for the copies. Additionally, the delay was attributed to unpaid deficit charges of Rs 274. The commission found that the registry had processed the application promptly after the judicial order. “The procedural bar of deficit charges remaining unpaid, the statutory nature of certified copies, and the public policy underpinning the exclusion of judicial administration from consumer supervision mean the complaint fails on both facts and law,” it said. It added that the complainant did not meet the essential criteria of a consumer grievance. “A litigant seeking certified copies is merely availing a statutory right. There is no hiring of a service. Thus, the complainant does not fall within the definition of consumer,” the order stated. The commission also noted it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate acts of court administration. (With PTI inputs)
29 December,2025 06:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
