Changes to Civic Act rakes up controversy

Civil society members appeal to Gov. to examine objections

Many from the civil society have raised few objections to the Municipal Act amendments, which were passed in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday. The members were specifically critical of the increase in number of nominated members in municipalities and municipal corporations, increasing the period of passing no confidence motion from three years to four years and voting rights to Rajya Sabha members. They asked Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan to examine the objections they have raised before giving assent to the bill.

Civic activist and secretary of NGO Forum for Good Governance (FGG) M. Padmanabha Reddy said that there is a provision to appoint persons having special knowledge

and experience in municipal administration as members. He said at present there are five nominated members in the 150member GHMC council and most appointments are politically motivated.

Now the amendment proposes 15 nominated members in GHMC and 10 in other corporations. As per section 8(A) of GHMC Act, ward committees should consist of members from civil society, resident welfare associations and professional institutions.

“Over the last three years, ward committees were never formed in GHMC. We feel that increasing the strength of nominated members is not going to help the functioning of municipalities. Moreover, it will not serve any public interest. The working of incumbent nominated members has been nil in the last three years. Why should there be an increase in their numbers,” he pointed out.

Reddy further said section 37 of Telangana Municipalities Act prescribes a period of no confidence motion as three years, which will now become four years. Section 91-A of GHMC Act and section 37 of Telangana Municipal Act prescribes that “A motion expressing want of confidence in mayor/deputy mayor, chairperson and deputy chairperson may be made by giving a written notice signed by not less than one half of the total number of members having right to vote.” He said when the condition to move a noconfidence motion is so strong that there is little chance for frivolous noconfidence motions to destabilise the council. He said that there should be no time limit for no confidence motion.

Pointing out voting rights to MPS (Rajya Sabha), the civic activist said that the 74th amendment Act 1992 passed by the Parliament has elevated the status of municipal bodies from statutory to constitutional and endowed them with enhanced powers and responsibilities.

“Providing Rajya Sabha members the right to vote in the election of mayor and deputy mayor is unconstitutional and encroaches into the powers of local bodies,” he said.