Civic body board meeting held while UP assembly was in session, nullified

GHAZIABAD: The board meeting conducted by the Ghaziabad municipal corporation (GMC) on February 17 was nullified Wednesday. The step was taken after two Members of Legislative Council (MLC) raised the matter before the upper house of the state and highlighted that, as per rules, the board meeting cannot be held concurrently with the assembly sessions of the state’s lower and upper houses.

The GMC board comprises of the mayor, municipal commissioner and councillors. Apart from these, the board also comprises of four MLCS, three MLAS, MP and one Rajya Sabha Member as designated members.

The two MLCS, Jitendra Yadav and Rakesh Yadav, who are also nominated members of the GMC, raised the issue before the upper house on Tuesday and sought discussion over the matter.

On Wednesday, the two MLCS said the presiding officer of the House had taken cognisance of the issue.

“We raised the issue that the municipal corporation cannot hold a board meeting while the state assembly session is in progress. It is in direct contravention of the directions issued by UP chief secretary in this regard. The presiding officer nullified the proceedings of the corporation, held on February 17,” Jitendra said.

“Apart from nullifying the board proceedings of February 17, the presiding officer also forwarded the matter to a special committee, which will inquire into the matter and decide on action to be taken,” Rakesh said.

It must be noted that before the board meeting the issue was brought to the notice of GMC officials and city mayor by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councilors Rajendra Tyagi and Himanshu Mittal.

“I abstained from attending the board meeting, while Mittal went to the House on February 17 and gave written representation to the municipal commissioner and also the mayor. We also sent letters to UP chief secretary and other officials. Thereafter, the matter was also brought to the notice of MLCS who are also members of the GMC board. They took up the matter before the Vidhan Parishad (upper house) as calling a board meeting while the assembly was in session is in contravention of the rights of the members,” Raj Nagar BJP councilor Rajendra Tyagi said.

Mayor Asha Sharma, on the other hand, said she had no information about the chief secretary’s order and was not apprised of it by officials.

“There is also a special provision under the Municipal Corporation Act which provides for calling a board meeting under special circumstances. We called up the board meeting as the budget had to be passed otherwise the funds could have gone back to the state unutilized. The officials are responsible for conducting Board meeting, as per the provisions of the Rules and Act. They should have informed me about the issue,” Sharma said.

“We called the board meeting for development works. If some of our councillors are opposed to this, we cannot do much about it. However, I have also come to know that the board meeting’s proceedings have been nullified. We will comply with directions given by the committee (take up inquiry) and may call the board meeting again after the assembly session gets over,” she added.

Municipal commissioner Dinesh Chandra said, “The replies to the objections were sent to the UP officials and we regret if such a thing has happened. We will comply with directions given by the state government in this regard.”