Mumbai : The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has issued notices to the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal’s Secretary, Maharashtra Chief Secretary, BMC Commissioner, and Mumbai Police Commissioner following a complaint alleging discrimination in darshan arrangements.
The complaint, filed by Ashish Rai and Pankajkumar Mishra, accused the Mandal’s volunteers of giving special treatment to VIPs while subjecting ordinary devotees—including pregnant women, children, and senior citizens—to “malicious behavior” and poor crowd management.
The petitioners highlighted that the narrow lane leading to the pandal was unsafe, posing a risk of a fatal stampede, while also pointing out inadequate civic amenities and security for devotees waiting in long queues.
Citing multiple videos circulating annually on social media showing devotees being manhandled, fainting, or suffering indignities at the hands of mandal volunteers and private guards, the MSHRC questioned why authorities had not yet deployed trained personnel to ensure humane treatment of worshippers.
The commission directed all concerned authorities to explore alternative arrangements to prevent further human rights violations during the Ganeshotsav.
