The Forum for Good Governance criticised the government for not holding elections to the GHMC and placing the civic body under the regime of Special Officer. There is no valid reason for postponing the elections despite the State Election Commission and the civil service organisations alerting the government well in advance. There was also no extraordinary circumstances warranting such a move.
“It is against the principles of democracy and goes against the provision of Article 243 U which does not allow interference in the democratic unit of self government,” said Justice Reddappa Reddy, president, and M. Padmanabha Reddy, secretary, Forum for Good Governance.
They told presspersons here on Thursday that Section 70 G of GHMC, which provided for appointment of special officer, was also against the spirit of 74 Constitutional amendment. “We will file a writ against this atrocious provision,” Justice Reddy said.
As far back as six months, the forum reminded the SEC and the government for taking steps to conduct the GHMC elections on time. The High Court too had directed the government in August to reorganise the municipal wards properly and conduct the polls. But the corporation did not bother to implement the court order. In a case pertaining to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in 2006, the Supreme Court had observed that in case the government did not hold the election in time, the SEC could approach the High Court and then the Supreme Court. “Now it is for the SEC to approach the court,” the forum members said.
They said special officer is not directly accountable to people unlike the elected representatives. Moreover, people have difficulty in approaching him. To provide for greater accountability, transparency and responsiveness, empowered ward committees are necessary, they said, and asked the government to hold the elections at the earliest.
