File Photo: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (Press Trust of India)
To concentrate on providing expeditious governance, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, has delegated some powers to two Ministers of State (MoS). Ram Shinde is MoS Home (Rural) and Ranjit Patil is MoS Home (Urban).
The Chief Minister has amended his orders of February 13, 2015 and delegated powers such as appointing special lawyers other than public prosecutors in pending cases, issuing Mantralaya (state secretariat) entry passes, deciding on proposals of bifurcation of police station, deciding on old cases in accordance with court directives to both his deputies.
A home department official said both the MoS will take these responsibilities as per their jurisdiction.
"Urban areas are the 10 cities having a police commissionerate including Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik and Nagpur. While rural comprises rest of the state," the official said.
In rural areas, the District Collector is the District Magistrate while in the urban areas, Police Commissioner has magistrate powers.