Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave clear indications that the row between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party over the mayoral elections in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) could go in latter’s favour. Contrary to the BJP’s demand that the nominated members be allowed to vote in the mayoral elections, the apex court remarked that the constitution did not give right to the nominated members to vote.
While issuing notice to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the Protem Presiding Officer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in a petition filed by AAP alleging deliberate stalling of the mayoral elections for the third time in a row, the apex court said the Constitution did not allow nominated members (aldermen) of a municipality the right to vote in meetings,
“The difference is very substantial between you (elected members) and them (nominated members),” Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud remarked in the preliminary hearing. The three-judge Bench listed the case for detailed hearing on February 13 after senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for AAP mayoral candidate Shelly Oberoi, urged that the case concerned “destruction of democracy.” Mr. Singhvi said Article 243U of the Constitution mandates that elections to constitute a municipality should be completed well in time.
He said the elections were held on December 4, 2022. But subsequent polls for the offices of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of the Standing Committees have been stalled thrice. He said the Protem Presiding Officer has allowed nominated members to vote in direct violation of Article 243R(2)(iv) of the Constitution.
“It is not just a statute, the Constitution itself does not allow them to vote,” Justice P.S. Narasimha remarked at the point. “Yes, may I say that this is a case of res ipsa loquitur and no less…” Mr. Singhvi said. He further said the appointment of Ms Satya Sharma as the Protem Presiding Officer by the Lieutenant Governor itself was “illegal” as she is not the senior most member of the MCD.
“Then she orders all three elections of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of the Standing Committees to be held together. There is directly a provision that this cannot be done,” Mr. Singhvi submitted. “Since in terms of Section 76 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act of 1957, the Mayor, or in his absence the Deputy Mayor, has to preside over every meeting of the corporation, the simultaneous holding elections of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Members of the Standing Committees is directly contrary to the provisions of the statute,” the court recorded Mr. Singhvi’s contention in its order.
Ms Oberoi had moved the Supreme Court on January 27, pleading for swift and timely conduct of the mayoral polls after the House was stalled twice — January 6 and 24. She later withdrew while seeking permission to move the court again in case the aldermen were allowed to vote.
Soon after the House was adjourned on February 6, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia had said the party would seek the Supreme Court’s intervention for the impartial conduct of the mayoral elections. AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said the party had shared with the apex court evidence of the BJP-led Centre trying “to form its own government within the MCD through unfair means.”
“We have videos that show how the BJP councillors started creating a ruckus in the House on Monday while AAP councillors sat quietly. The BJP councillors indulged in hooliganism and shouted slogans, following which the House was adjourned. This means that the whole conspiracy [to stall the House] had been planned,” he said on Tuesday.
The results of the MCD elections were announced on December 7 in which the AAP emerged the clear winner with 134 seats in the House of 250 with the BJP securing 104 seats. But right from day one, the BJP claimed that despite being voted out of the MCD by the people, it would capture all the elected posts including that of the mayor, deputy mayor and the standing committee members through the support of the nominated members appointed by the LG.
