Political leaders cry foul over amendments to MC Act

CHANDIGARH:While the administration has published the draft notification for making amendments in the Punjab Municipal Corporation law Act 1994 extended in Chandigarh, the leaders of the political parties raised questions over not including Mayor -in -council.

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 18

While the administration has published the draft notification for making amendments in the Punjab Municipal Corporation law Act 1994 extended in Chandigarh, the leaders of the political parties raised questions over not including Mayor -in -council. The parties also raised issues on extending the tenure of the mayor from one year besides not consulting them before finalizing the draft.

Pawan Kumar Bansal former union minister said that the amendments should have been discussed in the Administrator's Advisory council or Home minister's Advisory committee. He said that all the political parties should have been consulted before finalizing the draft as it will have far reaching consequences for the future of the Municipal Corporation. He also raised question over making the provision for the anti defection rule by BJP Government at this stage. Meanwhile, Sanjay Tandon President Chandigarh BJP said that the though discussion for making the amendments in the MC Act was held earlier but he was not informed before publishing the draft notification. However Tandon welcomed the proposals like the appointment of the ombudsman and anti defection provisions in the proposed draft notification.

Pradeep Chhbara President Chandigarh Congress said that the draft notification was not completed without making the provisions for mayor- in- Council. He said that why the BJP Government was making the hurry in making the amendments.

Devinder Singh Babla member of the Home Minister's Advisory Committee said that no such was agenda for making the amendments in the MC Act was brought before the committee earlier. He said that instead of making the democratic system strong the BJP Government is giving more power to the administration which will be opposed. Davesh Moudgil Mayor said that he had yet to see the proposed amendments.

In the draft notification issued on Saturday the administration proposed crucial amendments in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law like no confidence motion against Mayor, appointment of ombudsmen,and disqualification on defection. The proposal mentioned that an elected councillor shall be disqualified if he joins any political party after election.It was pointed out that in case of a dispute over disqualification, the decision of the UT administrator would be final.

Draft notification

In the draft notification issued on Saturday, the administration proposed crucial amendments in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law like no confidence motion against Mayor, appointment of ombudsmen,and disqualification on defection. The proposal mentioned that an elected councillor shall be disqualified if he joins any political party after election. It was pointed out that in case of a dispute over disqualification, the decision of the UT administrator would be final.