Another MCD meeting ends in chaos — this time, over recent election to fill key panel vacancy

Saturday’s meeting, scheduled to commencement astatine 2 pm, began precocious arsenic Mayor Shelly Oberoi didn’t get until 2.48 pm. The league started with leaders of each 3 parties speechmaking a ‘shlok prastav’ to mourn the deaths of 2 erstwhile councillors. Mayor Oberoi past called for a two-minute soundless tribute.

Taking up the contented of the election, Oberoi said, “In the erstwhile meeting, the Standing Committee predetermination could not beryllium held… The elections were to beryllium held successful today’s meeting. Instead, they were hastily conducted connected September 27,” she stated, noting that the SC had taken cognizance of the contented and ordered that nary elections beryllium held until the adjacent hearing.

On Friday, the apex tribunal had questioned the workout of powers nether Section 487 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena for directing the holding of predetermination to capable up the vacancy successful the Standing Committee and said “we person superior doubts astir the legality and validity of your (L-G’s) powers”.

Following Oberoi’s remarks, the House descended into chaos.

BJP councillors repeatedly chanted “Pass” and “Adjourn” into their microphones, mocking the politician for allegedly passing agendas without due treatment and routinely adjourning meetings during the ruckus.

Some BJP councillors besides attempted to attack the Well of the House wherever the politician was seated but were stopped by information personnel. Despite the disruption, wrong 5 minutes, Oberoi passed a fewer agendas, postponed others, and adjourned the meeting. As she exited, BJP councillors shouted, “Bhaag gayi, bhaag gayi, Mayor Sahiba bhaag gayi.”

Among the agendas passed connected Saturday was the acquisition of anti-larval medicines. A argumentation regarding designation of worker unions, a connection to revise parking rates, and a day for the creation of the lasting committee was postponed. “The predetermination of 1 subordinate of the lasting committee from the corp has already been taken up and decided by the corp connected 27.9.2024. However, the substance is sub-judice earlier Hon’ble Supreme Court,” the docket mentioned.

Leader of the Opposition, BJP’s Raja Iqbal Singh, criticised Oberoi for passing agendas with lone a constricted fig of AAP councillors present. Questioning the party’s bulk successful the House, helium said: “AAP did not person capable spot to walk the resolutions connected the agenda. There were lone 81 AAP councillors present, portion the BJP had 94, on with six Congress councillors. The BJP had the close to determine connected the resolutions.”

He besides accused the Mayor of violating the MCD Act by ignoring the BJP’s request for a ballot connected the resolutions. “According to Article 44 (1) of the rules of process and behaviour of the MCD, if 4 oregon much members request a ballot connected immoderate proposal, the Mayor is required to behaviour the vote,” Singh noted.

He claimed that the receding attendance of AAP councillors was a motion of vexation implicit ongoing violations of the MCD Act, and delays successful the mayoral predetermination and the enactment of the lasting committee.

In a missive to the MCD Commissioner, the BJP demanded that the agendas should not beryllium considered passed. “It is shocking that without immoderate discussion, the politician asked the Leader of the House to proceed with the agenda, and they continued passing items portion BJP members were demanding a vote. With 94 BJP councillors and six Congress members present, they had the close to telephone for a vote,” the missive stated.

Responding to the BJP’s allegations, the AAP said successful a statement: “If the BJP person of the absorption was definite of his bulk successful the house, helium should person raised dissent and demanded part and voting. It’s not portion of the proceedings of the House if a missive is written from his bureau arsenic an afterthought.”