Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 7: The Maharashtra government has decided to appoint designated custodians across all urban local bodies to ensure permanent preservation of citizens’ living wills, also known as advance medical directives.
A government resolution issued by the Urban Development Department on Tuesday stated that municipal commissioners, chief officers of municipal councils and nagar panchayats will act as custodians. They will be responsible for safeguarding and maintaining these legal documents in accordance with directions of the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court.
The move aims to ensure secure and permanent storage of living wills submitted by citizens and to streamline access to such documents when required.
To support this, the government has developed a dedicated digital platform on the MahaULB portal. A special module will allow citizens to upload their directives and schedule appointments with custodians for verification and processing.
An amount of Rs 6.49 lakh has been allocated for developing the platform, while maintenance costs will be covered under the department’s e-governance budget.
As per the resolution, both online and offline submission processes have been outlined. Under the online system, applicants must upload their legally executed living will, following which the custodian will verify the documents and provide an authenticated copy within seven days.
In the offline mode, citizens can submit notarised documents physically, which will then be digitised and uploaded by the custodians.
Custodians will verify applicants’ identities, ensure document authenticity and issue certified copies. They will also be authorised to grant access to relevant parties as per legal requirements.
The resolution also allows citizens to cancel their living will by submitting the original document to the custodian, who will update its status on the portal.
A registration fee of Rs 1,000 has been fixed for the service, with Rs 500 to be deposited with the state government.
The government has cancelled all previous appointments of custodians and directed that existing living wills be transferred to the newly designated authorities.
A living will is a legal document that enables individuals to outline their preferences for medical treatment in situations where they may be unable to communicate, ensuring that their wishes regarding life-sustaining care are respected.