The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority Act, 2025

(1) This Act may be called the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority Act, 2025.

(2) It extends to the areas of the Nashik and Trimbakeshwar talukas and such other area or areas in Nashik Division, as the State Government may, by notification in Official Gazette, specify where activities relating to Kumbh Mela and allied activities are organized.

(3) It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 4th June 2025.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “ allied activities” means all activities taken up before, during or after organization of Kumbh Mela in order to improve the spiritual, religious, travel or tourism experience of devotees, travellers, tourists and other persons in or coming to Nashik Division ;

(b) “ Authority ” means the Nashik- Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority established under section 4 of the Act ;

(c) “ Chairperson ” means the Chairperson of the Authority ;

(d) “ Commissioner ” means the Commissioner of Nashik Division appointed under section 6 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 or such officer as may be appointed by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette ;

(e) “ Committee of Ministers for Kumbh Mela ” or “ Committee of Ministers ” means the Committee of Ministers for Kumbh Mela constituted by the Government under section 3 of the Act ;

(f) “ District ” means district as mentioned in section 3 and as notified as per section 4 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 ;

(g) “ Division ” means division consisting of one or more districts as mentioned in section 3 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966 ;

(h) “ Government ” or “ State Government ” means the Government of Maharashtra ;

(i) “ Kumbh Mela” means a religious fair organized at an interval of about every twelve years at Nashik and Trimbakeshwar;

(j) “ Kumbh Mela Area ” includes areas of the Nashik and Trimbakeshwar talukas and such other area or areas in Nashik Division, where activities relating to Kumbh Mela and allied activities are organized ;

(k) “ Kumbh Mela Commissioner ” means the officer of Indian Administrative Services appointed by the State Government for managing the activities relating to Kumbh Mela and allied activities ;

(l) “ Kumbh Mela Fund ” means a fund established under section 15 of the Act ;

(m) “ Kumbh Mela Plan” includes all tasks, projects, works and procurement necessary for the management of Kumbh Mela and allied activities ;

(n) “ local authority ” means Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, Nagar Panchayat, Industrial Township, Planning Authority, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti and Village Panchayat and other local self-Governments constituted by law ;

(o) “ prescribed ” means prescribed by rules made by the State Government under the Act ;

(p) “ regulations ” means the regulations made under the Act ;

(q) “religious congregation” means a small or large gathering of men, women and children to perform religious rituals;

(r) “ rules ” means the rules made by the State Government.

(1) The State Government shall by notification in the Official Gazette constitute a Committee of Ministers for Kumbh Mela.

(2) The Government shall appoint one of the Ministers of the Committee as “ Kumbh Mela Minister ”.

(3) The State Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of Deputy Collector as the Secretary of the Committee.

(4) The Committee of Ministers shall,— (i) review the work of the Authority, Chairperson and Kumbh Mela, from time to time ; (ii) examine the report submitted by the Authority ; (iii) approve the fees to be imposed by the Authority under section 12 of the Act.

(1) As soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, establish the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority to exercise the powers conferred on it and perform the functions assigned to it under this Act.

(2) The Authority shall be a body corporate, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and may by the said name sue or be sued.

(3) The headquarters of the Authority shall be at Nashik.

The Authority shall consist of the following members, namely :— (i) Commissioner, Nashik Division: Chairperson ; (ii) Collector, Nashik District: Vice-Chairperson ; (iii) Special Inspector General of Police, Nashik Range: Vice-Chairperson ; (iv) Collector, Ahilyanagar District: Ex-officio Member ; (v) Metropolitan Commissioner, Nashik Metropolitan Region Development Authority: Ex-officio Member ; (vi) Commissioner of Police, Nashik City: Ex-officio Member ; (vii) Superintendent of Police, Nashik Rural: Ex-officio Member ; (viii) Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of City of Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (ix) Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (x) Chief Officer, Trimbakeshwar Municipal Council, Trimbakeshwar: Ex-officio Member ; (xi) Deputy Commissioner Planning, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xii) Divisional Controller, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xiii) Deputy Director of Health, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xiv) Superintending Engineer, Water Resources Department (in charge of Management of Godavari River and water), Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xv) Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xvi) Chief Engineer, Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xvii) Superintending Engineer, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xviii) Regional Officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xix) Joint Director of Accounts and Treasuries, Nashik: Ex-officio Member ; (xx) Joint Director of Town Planning, Nashik Division: Ex-officio Member ; (xxi) Representative nominated by the Railway Board: Ex-officio Member ; (xxii) Kumbh Mela Commissioner: Member-Secretary.

(1) The Authority shall hold at least one meeting in every three months.

(2) The meetings of the Authority shall be presided over by the Chairperson.

(3) The place, time and mode of the meeting shall be such as may be decided by the Chairperson.

(4) The quorum of the meeting shall be at least one- third of the members of the Authority : Provided that, if any meeting could not be held for want of quorum, the Chairperson shall decide the place, time and mode of meeting not earlier than twenty-four hours of the originally scheduled meeting, and no quorum shall be mandatory for such meeting.

(5) The Authority may invite any additional persons to attend its meeting

(1) In order to effectively organize and manage the Kumbh Mela and allied activities, the Authority shall exercise the following powers and perform the following functions, namely :— (a) to prepare Kumbh Mela Plan in consultation with the Committee of Ministers and submit the same to the State Government for approval ; (b) to act as planning, co-ordinating and implementing authority to organize and manage Kumbh Mela and allied activities ; (c) to give administrative approvals for works proposed under the Kumbh Mela Plan ; (d) to supervise tendering processes by Government Departments, local authorities, Government companies, statutory bodies and corporations for works, procurement and services, including but not limited to supervision of preparing and issuing tender notices, evaluating bids, awarding contracts, and monitoring compliance with contractual obligations by the selected bidder ; (e) to impose fees for the purposes specified in section 12 of the Act ; (f) to decide about further use of various assets built or procured during Kumbh Mela after the Kumbh Mela and allied activities are over ; (g) to exercise such other powers and perform such other functions as may be delegated, directed or entrusted by the State Government, from time to time. (2) The powers and functions mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be exercised only for the purposes of processes, tasks, projects, works or procurements directly or indirectly related to the organization and management of Kumbh Mela and allied activities and not for any other purposes. (3) In case there is a dispute as to whether any action taken by the Authority under sub-section (1) is a part of organization or management of Kumbh Mela or allied activities or not, the decision of the State Government thereon shall be final. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, orders, approvals, instructions and directions given by the Authority under this Act to any person, officer or organization shall be binding and final. (5) The Authority shall submit report of work done every month to the Committee of Ministers and the State Government.

(1) In order to effectively organize and manage the Kumbh Mela and allied activities, the Chairperson shall exercise the following powers and perform the following functions, namely :— (a) to give such directions to different Government Departments, agencies, authorities including local authorities, Government companies, statutory bodies or corporations or public trusts and their officers and staff within the limits of Nashik Division as may be necessary,— (i) for organizing and managing Kumbh Mela and allied activities including setting up any infrastructure and providing services ; (ii) for the purpose of traffic, transportation and crowd management ; (iii) for the release and use of resources, including human, material, and financial resources available, with any Government Department, agency and authority including any local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporations within the limits of Nashik Division ; (iv) for the release and use of resources, including human, material and financial resources, available with any Government Department, agency and authority including any local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporations outside the limits of Nashik Division, but within the limits of the State of Maharashtra with the approval of the Government ; and it shall be the duty of the concerned Department, agency, authority including local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation or public trust or official or staff so entrusted to comply with the directions as part of its official duty : Provided that, no fees shall be charged by the concerned Department, agency, authority including local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation or public trust for performing such duty ; (b) to control and regulate the movement, traffic and transport of any person or vehicle or vessel in the State of Maharashtra; (c) to requisition services, partly or completely, of any officer or staff of any Government Department, agency, authority including local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporations or public trust within the limits of Nashik Division ; (d) to engage or appoint expert and consultant or companies in the relevant fields to advise and assist ; (e) to procure the exclusive or preferential use of amenities from any Government Department, agency, authority including local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporations and private person and company ; (f) requisition such services, facilities, resources, premises or vehicles as may be necessary ; (g) to enter into agreements for lease of, or requisition or acquire, such land to provide and create such infrastructure as the Authority may decide ; (h) to provide for such civic and other amenities, utilities and services as may be required ; (f) to initiate civil or criminal proceedings against any person for any contravention of provisions of the Act ; (j) to decide or at any time change implementing agency, which may be any Department, local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation or public trust, or the Authority itself, or to decide or at any time change officers in charge of implementation for various works to be taken up under the Kumbh Mela Plan approved by the State Government and other works related directly or indirectly with Kumbh Mela and allied activities ; (k) to release funds or distribute grants, from time to time, to implementing agency subject to stage, speed and quality of the project and to decide modalities for the same ; (l) to decide terms and conditions of bids, tenders, contracts and agreements for various works, projects and procurements to ensure quality, adherence to timelines ; (m) to direct Departments, local authorities, Government companies, statutory bodies or corporations or public trusts or any concerned officer to impose penalties as per the agreement or contract against the contractors, vendors and others and take such other action as may be required during the implementation of various works, projects or procurement processes ; (n) to do or get done quality control of various projects, works and procurements directly or indirectly related to Kumbh Mela or allied activities ; (o) to call for any report and documents from any Government Department, local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation or public trust regarding any matter directly or indirectly related to management of Kumbh Mela or allied activities ; (p) to supervise and control management of various tasks, projects, works and procurement directly or indirectly related to Kumbh Mela or allied activities ; (q) to exercise such other powers and perform functions as may be delegated, directed or entrusted by the Government or the Authority, from time to time. (2) The powers and functions mentioned in sub-section (1) shall be exercised only for the purposes of processes, tasks, projects, works or procurements directly or indirectly related to the organization and management of Kumbh Mela and allied activities, and not for any other purpose. (3) In case there is a dispute as to whether any action taken by the Chairperson under sub-section (1) is a part of orgnization or management of Kumbh Mela or allied activities or not, the decision of the State Government thereon shall be final. (4) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the being in force, orders, approvals, instructions and directions given by the Chairperson under this Act to any person, officer or organization shall be binding and final. (5) The Chairperson shall submit report of work done every month to the Authority, Committee of Ministers and the State Government.

(1) The Authority shall have such permanent and temporary officers and employees to run its office and day-to-day work as it may decide. (2) The Authority may, with the approval of the State Government, create permanent and temporary posts for officers and employees of the Authority. (3) The permanent posts of the Authority may be filled through recruitment or deputation and temporary posts by hiring through a service provider agency including National Institute of Smart Governance or any other empanelled agency. (4) The terms and conditions of service including salaries and allowances of officers and employees appointed under sub-section (1) shall be finalized with the approval of the State Government. (5) The officers and employees shall be under the administrative and disciplinary control of the Chairperson. (6) For the purpose of effective management of Kumbh Mela and allied activities, the following officers and employees shall be under the direct superintendence and control of the Kumbh Mela Commissioner :— (a) officers and employees to whom directions have been issued and whose services are requisitioned as per the provisions of the Act ; (b) officers and employees of the State Government and local authorities, Government companies, statutory bodies or corporations or public trusts under direct or indirect control of the State Government, who are directly or indirectly concerned with the organization and management of Kumbh Mela and allied activities. (7) The officers and employees specified in sub-section (6) shall be under the administrative and disciplinary control of the Chairperson. The Chairperson shall have powers of appointing and disciplinary authority for suspension and imposition of minor penalties under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979 or any other applicable service rules, as the case may be.

(1) Where by the reason of any threatening emergency situation or disaster, the Authority is satisfied that immediate procurement of provisions or materials, immediate application of resources or construction are necessary for preventing or mitigating such situation or disaster,— (i) it may authorise the concerned Department, agency or authority including local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation to make the emergency procurement or construction from any person or company, and in such case, the standard procedure as may be prescribed by any other law, rule, guideline or otherwise about inviting tenders or quotations shall be waived off ; (ii) a certificate about utilization of provisions or material or construction by the controlling officer authorized by the Authority shall be deemed to be a valid document or voucher for the purpose of accounting of such emergency procurement or construction. (2) For the purpose of taking decision under sub-section (1), requirements of the notice period and the quorum for the meeting shall be waived off.

(1) Whenever services, resources, premises or vehicles of any person or company are used or utilised, the Authority shall pay to such person or company such amount as may be determined by the Authority after taking into consideration the following, namely :— (a) the reasonable rent, compensation, service charges or fees payable as per the prevailing market rate of such services, resources, premises or vehicles ; (b) if as a consequence of the requisition of the premises, the person or company interested is compelled to change his or its residence or place of business, the reasonable expenses (if any) incidental to such change. (2) If any person or company is aggrieved by the amount of compensation so determined, he or it may make an application, within sixty days from the date of communication of such amount, to the Secretary to the Committee of Ministers for referring the matter to an arbitrator as per the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The amount of compensation determined by the arbitrator shall be paid to such person or company.

The Authority may, with the approval of the Committee of Ministers, by regulations, impose within the Kumbh Mela area,— (i) fees on the parking of vehicles or entering any vehicle or any person bringing goods for sale or for demonstration or advertisement into the Kumbh Mela area ; (ii) fees on the registration of business, trade or profession ; (iii) fees on the services provided to individuals as a service charge ; (iv) any other charge and fee in the Kumbh Mela area as the Authority thinks fit and necessary in the interest of Kumbh Mela.

The Authority may, on payment of fees and subject to conditions as it may impose, grant permission to any person or company to carry on any profession, business or trade in the Kumbh Mela area.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, and any plan, scheme, rules and regulations made thereunder, or any other law, rules or regulations in force, the Authority shall be competent to grant permission for any development including layout of any new temporary city or township for stay, tourism or recreation of citizens and tourists coming for Kumbh Mela or for allied activities. The Authority shall also have power to grant permission to construct such structures including buildings of any material including tents and huts, streets and amenities which may be required within or around such city or township. During the period for which such permission is granted under this section, provisions of any plan, scheme including draft or final development plan, draft or final regional plan and draft or preliminary or final town planning scheme, rule, bye law, regulation, notification or order made or issued under any law, shall not be applicable from the commencement of this Act within the area of Nashik and Trimbakeshwar talukas and such other area as may be notified by the State Government under sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Act, to such extent as may be necessary for carrying out such development as permitted under this section. (2) The Authority shall be competent to provide road connectivity and such other infrastructure and services as may be necessary from the nearby major road or area to such new township or city from Kumbh Mela Fund. (3) The permission for any development including the layout, city or township to be created shall be on the condition that structures and amenities therein can be used only for such period as may be permitted by the Authority but in any case not exceeding two years and that all structures except roads and underground utilities shall be removed after the said period of permission is over. (4) In such layouts of cities or townships outside the municipal limits established as per the permission granted under sub-section (1), and with respect to streets, encroachments, structures, hawking, sanitation and fire and emergency services in such layouts, the Kumbh Mela Commissioner shall have all the powers which are exercisable by the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act in the Municipal Corporation limits.

(1) There shall be constituted a fund to be called “ the Kumbh Mela Fund ” and the following shall be credited thereto, namely :— (a) any grant received from the State Government or the Central Government ; (b) any fee, charges and surcharges, etc., received by the Authority under this Act ; (c) any trust, bequests, donations, endowments and other grants ; and (d) any other sums received on behalf of the Authority. (2) The Kumbh Mela Fund shall be applied for organizing and managing the Kumbh Mela and allied activities and any other purposes as may be approved by the Authority. (3) The State Government, all the Departments, Government companies and statutory bodies or corporations shall transfer all the funds and grants for proposed and ongoing works, projects or procurements directly or indirectly related to Kumbh Mela and allied activities to the Authority which shall be released as per the provisions of this Act. (4) The Kumbh Mela Fund shall be operated by the Kumbh Mela Commissioner with the approval of the Chairperson.

The Authority or the Chairperson, as the case may be, by general or special order in writing, may delegate to any officer or staff of the State Government, local authority, Government company or statutory body or corporation such of its powers and functions under this Act as it may deem necessary, subject to such conditions, if any, as may be specified in the order.

Whosoever, including the officers and employees of the Government, local authority, Government company, statutory body or corporation or public trust, without any valid and reasonable cause,— (i) obstructs or fails to co-operate with any officer or employee or a person authorized by the Authority, Chairperson or Kumbh Mela Commissioner in discharge of functions arising out of this Act ; (ii) refuses or fails to comply with or fails to co-operate for any action in pursuance to any direction given by or on behalf of the Authority, Chairperson or Kumbh Mela Commissioner under this Act ; shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both, and if such obstruction or failure or refusal results in loss of life or imminent danger therefor or grievous injury thereof, then shall on conviction be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years.

(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly: Provided that, nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such office bearer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,— (a) “ company ” means a body corporate and includes a firm, an association of persons or body of individuals whether incorporated or not ; and (b) “ director ” in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm, and in relation to any association of persons or body of individuals, means any member controlling the affairs thereof.

No court shall take cognizance of an offence under this Act except on a complaint made by an officer authorized in this behalf by the Kumbh Mela Commissioner.

No court shall have jurisdiction to entertain any suit or proceeding in respect of anything done, any action taken, orders made, directions or instructions issued by the Authority, Chairperson and Kumbh Mela Commissioner in pursuance of any powers conferred by or under this Act.

The provisions of this Act and orders issued or made thereunder shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other law for the time being in force.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of the Act. (2) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days, which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before expiry of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, both the Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the Houses agree that the rule should not be made, and notify their decision to that effect in the Official Gazette, the rule shall from the date of publication of such decision in the Official Gazette, have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so however that, any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done or omitted to be done under that rule.

The Authority may, with the previous approval of the State Government, make regulations, from time to time, by notification published in the Official Gazette, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act and rules made thereunder, for all or any of the matters provided under this Act by regulations.

The Government may, from time to time, in the public interest and for better and effective administration of the Authority, give such directions to Authority as deemed necessary; and the Authority shall comply with such directions.

(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of the Act, the State Government may, as occasion arises, by an order published in the Official Gazette, do anything not inconsistent with the provisions of the Act, as may appear to it to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of removing the difficulty : Provided that, no such order shall be made after expiry of a period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act. (2) Every order issued under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is issued, before each House of the State Legislature.

(1) The Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority Ordinance, 2025, is hereby repealed. (2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken (including any notification or order issued) under the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done, taken or, as the case may be, under the corresponding provisions of this Act.