Delhi Mayor moves SC amid deadlock on suspended standing committee

Tribune News Service

Anshita Mehra

New Delhi, January 28

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been facing an escalating crisis as Mayor Shelly Oberoi has urgently sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to break the deadlock surrounding the suspended standing committee.

At the same time, Opposition leader Raja Iqbal Singh has accused the Delhi Government of resorting to foul tactics to stifle the standing committee elections, adding a layer of complexity to the city’s administrative turmoil.

Oberoi has approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent relief to address the current impasse surrounding the MCD. The crisis has stemmed from the suspension of the standing committee, the MCD’s primary executive body, due to pending legal decisions on the L-G’s nominations without the Delhi Government’s advice.

The Mayor has highlighted the severe consequences of this situation, emphasising a standstill in various essential governance functions, including the procurement of textbooks and medical supplies for MCD schools and health centres, as well as the maintenance of public parks, toilets and other facilities.

Oberoi has contended that “unconstitutionally appointed” individuals have halted the formation of the standing committee, preventing critical financial and administrative decisions.

To mitigate the deadlock, the MCD has passed a resolution allowing approvals for contracts exceeding Rs 5 crore to be directly sanctioned by the corporation.

Given the corporation’s role as the highest authority within the MCD, Oberoi has argued that it is appropriate for the corporation to temporarily assume the standing committee’s responsibilities until a legal constitution can be established.

LoP Iqbal Singh has accused the Delhi Government of resorting to unlawful tactics to evade elections to the standing committee. Singh has said that the government, fearing internal dissent among its councillors, has sought Supreme Court intervention to delay the elections.

Singh said the Supreme Court has not imposed any restrictions on conducting standing committee elections, urging the municipal government to swiftly proceed with the electoral process.

He has accused the government of using the court as a means to defer the matter while being unaware that the authority to distribute powers lies with the country’s Parliament.

According to Singh, the government is apprehensive that dissatisfied councillors may choose to vote for BJP candidates in the standing committee elections, driving them to delay the elections and seek relief from the Supreme Court.

Singh has also accused the government of neglecting public welfare initiatives during its tenure.

Escalating crisis

The escalating crisis has stemmed from the suspension of the standing committee, the Delhi Municipal Corporation’s primary executive body, due to pending legal decisions on the L-G’s nominations without the Delhi Government’s advice.

Move aimed at preventing elections: BJP

LoP Raja Iqbal Singh has accused the Delhi Government of resorting to unlawful tactics to evade elections to the standing committee. Singh said the government has sought intervention by the Supreme Court to delay the elections.

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