Aldermen’s appointment challenged

The state BJP unit has decided to challenge in the Delhi high court the appointment of the AAP government-appointed aldermen in three municipal corporations. The government has nominated 10 aldermen in each corporation after the civic polls.

According to a senior party leader, after getting a green signal from state leadership, a petition challenging the recent appointment aldermen, who are nominated members in the municipal corporations, will be drafted by Delhi BJP’s legal cell, which is likely to be filed in the high court in next few days.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government has nominated 10 aldermen each in North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations in July.

“The BJP will challenge the number of aldermen appointed in three municipal corporations. It is clear misinterpretation of rules by the Kejriwal government. After the trifurcation, the total number of councillors in Delhi has not changed. When the three civic bodies still have 272 elected members, then why has the government enhanced the nominated members from 10 to 30?” he asked.

Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari confirmed the party will challenge the appointment of aldermen in the high court in the next couple of days.

A senior official of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation said the number of nominated members could be challenged in the court as the appointment was done going against the spirit of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.

“Under the unified civic body, there was a provision to nominate 10 members or aldermen such as lawyers, doctors or academicians. When the erstwhile corporation has been divided into three, they adopted the same constitution and nominating 10 members for each corporation.” This procedure has loop holes and it must be challenged in the court,” he said.