Stalin gets copy of Acharyulu's complaint letter

By R.K.Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, JULY. 26. The Municipal Administration Department has finally decided to give the Chennai Mayor, Mr. M. K. Stalin, a copy of the complaint- letter written by the Commissioner, Mr. J. T. Acharyulu, on the ``undemocratic functioning of the Chennai Corporation council.''

It was based on this letter, written on June 29, that the MAWS department issued a show-cause notice the same day, asking why the council should not be superceded.

The Municipal Administration and Water Supply department, which governs the local bodies in the State, asked the Mayor and council department to submit their explanation within 30 days.

In his letter, Mr. Acharyulu detailed ``the misuse of power by the Mayor using the majority of the DMK in the Council, beyond the powers conferred by law'' and sent it directly to the Government. This was in contravention of Section 37 of the Madras City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, which insists that all communication to the Government be carried out through the Mayor, it was contended.

The Mayor took exception to this and asked the MAWS department to give him a copy of the original complaint. The Mayor, in a written communication to the department, demanded a copy of the letter early this month. He followed it up with a reminder on July 13. There was no response to both letters till July 25. The Mayor also sought 30 days' time from the date of receipt of the letter to reply.

``We received a copy of the complaint letter on July 25,'' the Mayor said. Asked whether the department had given him the 30-day time frame as he requested, the Mayor said there was no specific reference to this aspect. ``The covering letter, dated July 24, only said we should submit our reply at the earliest,'' he said.

The next course of action was being decided. Since there was a mandatory notice period required for convening the council, it may not be possible to reply to the department within the time frame fixed by the MAWS department earlier, it is said. ``The council has to reply. This letter is being routed through me. It is for the council to decide on the issue and frame an appropriate response,'' the Mayor said.

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