Maha elected representatives to be treated as ordinary citizens in specific cases: Govt

Mumbai: Elected representatives in Maharashtra will be treated as ordinary citizens when they visit govt offices as an accused in a criminal case, for a hearing/inquiry or when they come to file their nominations, scrutiny or work related to the election process.On Tuesday, the state's general administration dept issued a circular signed by the chief secretary, Rajesh Agarwal, tweaking Point 1.2 of an earlier circular issued in Nov 2025. Point 1.2 of the Nov 2025 circular states that when members of the legislature/Parliament come for a visit and when they leave after the visit, officials should stand up and greet them. The fresh circular now states that Point 1.2 must be read as follows: "If a public representative has been found guilty in a criminal or other case, or has been called as an appellant or party for inquiry/hearing, or is present in a govt office in connection with the election process (submission of nomination forms, scrutiny, hearing, etc.), then in such circumstances, when members of the legislature/Parliament come for a visit and when they leave after the visit, officials are not required to stand up and greet them. In such circumstances, the concerned officials are expected to treat public representatives like ordinary citizens, without any discrimination, in accordance with law, rules and circumstances." Congress MLA Amin Patel said even today, while filing nomination papers, they are treated as ordinary citizens and that is absolutely fine.The Nov 2025 GR consolidating all previous GRs on how to interact with elected representatives was issued after several MLAs complained about not being treated with respect by govt officers. BJP Mumbai unit president and MLA from Andheri West Ameet Satam said the fresh circular speaks of very specific situations. "If an elected representative has come as an accused, has come to record a statement or has come to file his nominations, then the returning officer need not stand up and greet him to maintain neutrality and transparency. I find nothing objectionable in it," he said.