Supreme Court orders postponement of Chandigarh MC budget meet on February 7

Sandeep Rana

Chandigarh, February 5

Ongoing political turmoil over the mayoral polls has taken a toll on the routine functioning of the Municipal Corporation. While a meeting to elect the members of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), which is held in January every year, could not be held due to the stretched mayoral polls, the budget meeting scheduled for February 7 has been deferred on the SC orders. Councillor Kuldeep Kumar of AAP has moved apex court challenging the HC order on the mayoral polls.

The Supreme Court’s directions for putting off the February 7 budget meeting till further orders has spoilt Mayor Manoj Sonkar’s plans to hold his very first House meeting. The meeting was called amid protests by the Opposition councillors over the alleged rigging of the mayoral polls by the presiding officer on January 30.

In a departure from the past practice, a meeting on budget estimates was called first instead of a meeting to elect the members of the F&CC. Every year, a five-member panel is formed through election in the very first meeting under new Mayor.

This time, the mayoral election got dragged to the month-end, as such the F&CC meeting could not be held in January. In view of the prevailing political scenario, the MC did not hold the meeting even in February. However, the MC secretary issued an order for the budget meeting.

Congress councillor Gupreet Singh Gabi, who was the ex-F&CC member, said, “The ruling BJP deliberately got the election postponed to January 30. The budget estimates are first tabled at the F&CC meeting and then presented before the MC House. It was not done this time. We thank the SC for ordering the postponement of the budget meeting. The Mayor has been elected fraudulently.”

SC order a big relief: AAP

The SC directions have come as a big relief to us. How could the Mayor, who has been appointed by murdering democracy, have been allowed to hold the House meeting? The SC has strengthened democracy. — Dr SS Ahluwalia, Co-in charge, City AAP

Dr SS Ahluwalia, co-in charge, city AAP, said, “We had already declared a boycott of the scheduled meeting, but the SC directions have come as a big relief to us. How can the Mayor, who has been appointed by murdering democracy, could have been allowed to hold the House meeting? The SC has strengthened democracy.”

City BJP president Jatinder Pal Malhotra said, “The matter is sub judice. The meeting could be held later.” Sonkar did not answer phone calls made by this correspondent today. He was elected Mayor on January 30 amid allegations that presiding officer Anil Masih, a nominated councillor, deliberately invalidated eight votes to make the BJP councillor win.

Masih has been the general secretary of the BJP’s minority mocha. Meanwhile, the MC secretary issued a new order regarding the deferment of the budget meeting.

No meeting to elect F&CC

A meeting to elect the members of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC), which is convened in January every year, could not be held with the mayoral polls stretching to month-end. The committee has the power to clear agenda items worth Rs 50 lakh each.