Naik vs Shinde: Retirement age order sparks NMMC feud

BJP legislators, led by Navi Mumbai strongman Ganesh Naik’s nephew Sagar Naik, accused the UD department of blocking a pro-employee decision and retiring employees aged 58 years forcefully on March 31 even though the NMMC had passed resolutions hiking the retirement

Navi Mumbai: A political slugfest broke out in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) on Tuesday after the house learned that the state urban development (UD) department – headed by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde – had suspended the civic body’s resolutions to increase the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.

The episode highlights a widening faultline between Ganesh Naik’s (in pic) local dominance in Navi Mumbai and the Shinde-led state establishment’s control over urban governance (HT PHOTO)

BJP legislators, led by Navi Mumbai strongman Ganesh Naik’s nephew Sagar Naik, accused the UD department of blocking a pro-employee decision and retiring employees aged 58 years forcefully on March 31 even though the NMMC had passed resolutions hiking the retirement age.

“A resolution was passed by the house which has the authority to take the decision. Yet the administration went ahead and retired employees even as the proposal was in force,” he said, demanding reinstatement of those who had been retired.

Shiv Sena leaders defended the move, saying the issue of retirement age was not limited to NMMC alone, but to 29 municipal corporations across the state.

“If a decision is taken in one case, it will apply across all,” said opposition leader Vijay Chougule.

The NMMC standing committee and general body had, on March 11 and March 20 respectively, passed resolutions hiking the retirement age, which formed the basis of the proposed NMMC Service Rules 2026.

On March 31, however, the UD department issued an order invoking section 451(1) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act, suspending both resolutions. The civic body had framed its own service rules and sought to enforce them “with immediate effect”, which was prima facie inconsistent with the law and required prior approval, the UD department said.

Retirement orders for NMMC employees who had completed 58 years were also issued on March 31.

On Tuesday, the issue erupted in the NMMC general body post-lunch, when an adjournment motion moved by BJP corporator Preeti Bhagat to question the administration over employee retirement was taken up. When members learnt of the UD department order, BJP leaders led by Naik accused the administration of misleading the house and questioned the referral to the state.

The hike in retirement age was aimed at retaining nearly 400 experienced local staff with deep geographical and social understanding of Navi Mumbai who would otherwise retire by 2027. “Losing them will create a vacuum that cannot be filled,” Naik said.

Taking the fight directly to the state government, he stated, “We exercised our authority at the municipal level, and the state exercised theirs – but it is clearly visible who acted in the interest of Navi Mumbai and its employees and who did not.”

Naik alleged that vested interests were at play as some officers on deputation were unhappy with NMMC’s now-nixed move. He also challenged the administration’s role, saying, “The proposal was sent to the state illegally—approval was not required. The state government itself is creating a hurdle.”

Shinde had earlier referred the matter to the state government citing legal concerns – a position backed by the UD department in its March 31 order.

Additional municipal commissioner Sunil Pawar cited rules and defended the need for state approval.

Naik warned that if the decision was not changed, the NMMC could approach the court.

Mayor Sujata Patil backed the ruling bench, saying retirements should not proceed contrary to the house decision and ordering a legal reply.

The episode highlights a widening faultline between Ganesh Naik’s local dominance in Navi Mumbai and the Shinde-led state establishment’s control over urban governance. With the retirement age remaining at 58, the NMMC stares at a wave of exits.