MP Cabinet nod to aid for martyrs kin, Bill on urban body polls

The state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, met at Mantralaya on Tuesday and cleared a set of key decisions, including financial assistance for the family of a slain police inspector and approval to present a Bill on restoring direct elections for heads of urban bodies.

The Cabinet approved Rs 1 crore for the family of Inspector Ashish Sharma of Hawk Force Balaghat, who was killed in a Naxal encounter on November 19, and sanctioned a compassionate appointment for his younger brother Ankit Sharma as a Sub-Inspector in the district police force.

Officials said Sharma was known as a capable and courageous officer who received the Gallantry Medal from the President twice, the Internal Service Medal in 2021, and the Difficult Service Medal in 2023. He was granted an out-of-turn promotion the same year. The meeting opened with the singing of Vande Mataram.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved the tabling of a Bill in the Assembly to restore direct elections for Chairpersons of Nagar Palika and Nagar Parishad.

These posts were elected directly between 1999 and 2014 before shifting to an indirect system in 2022, under which elected ward councillors chose the chairpersons. The Mayor continues to be elected directly by voters.