The Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya’s 120-year-old legacy is engulfed by irregularities in its operations and shrouded by the white scam. There is immense efforts put up to convert the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya which is registered under the Maharashtra Public Trust Act 1950 into an Organisation. The CM has now ordered a complete enquiry into the whole affairs of the Granth Sangrahalaya.
RTI Activist Anil Galgali and Dhananjay Shinde recently met CM Devendra Fadnavis and submitted a detailed memorandum demanding enquiry into the affairs of the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya. The CM, in response, directed the Higher and Technical education department to immediately enquire into the matter and take action. In the memorandum, it has been highlighted that, the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya has its own bye laws. The whole affairs of the Granth Sangrahalaya is run by utilising the loopholes in the by laws, which is creating complications in its operations. In fact, there exist three different by laws out of which the 1984 by laws is an Approved bye law. For the purpose of self convenience the trustees show bye laws pertaining to 1989 and sometimes 2013. The same has been challenged before the Charity Commissioner, who has been complacent in action. Though the amendment was challenged before the Charity Commissioner, who has chosen to ignore the lapses in the change report, illegal elections were conducted in 2016 and Chairman was elected directly, even though the Chairman had never filed his nomination for the post. This is a unique case in itself. In the case of elections for the Vice Chairman post, no elections were conducted and on the direction of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and Trustees were nominated in complete violation of the by laws. Except for Ramdas Phutane, all the great person’s nominated were not even ordinary members of the Granth Sangrahalaya. The applications for membership of these elite trustees were taken on February 22, 2017, and within next 15 minutes, they were declared as Vice Chairman and Trustees. Another interesting angle is that the same proposal was once again passed in the next meeting a month later on March 22, 2017. All the complaints on these illegal acts is pending before the Charity Commissioner.
Further, the memorandum also highlights that sale and creation of new branches of the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya was undertaken but the there is serious lapses in submission of the audit reports. It is no secret that the property prices in areas like Dadar have sky-rocketed and the tenants of the Sangrahalaya are deprived of facilities due to such illegal acts of the trustees. An enquiry into all these irregularities will expose trustees, executive officer and other members because the rule of taking prior permission of the charity commissioner in activities like sale have not been taken and all activities have been done without calling for tenders. Because of all these illegalities, the financial condition of the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya is in doldrums. It is open secret that looking at the towering buildings surrounding the Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya, and with dreams of redevelopment, new members of various political parties and professional architects have been nominated as trustees.
“CM Devendra Fadnavis has given orders for enquiry on the memorandum. After a detailed enquiry all the financial irregularities and the white collar scam will be exposed and a true picture will emerge,” expressed Anil Galgali.
