The Delhi High Court on Friday stayed the decision of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to disqualify suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain, arrested in connection with a case related to north-east Delhi riots in February, as councillor of the municipal body.
Justice Najmi Waziri also issued notice to the corporation and sought its stand on the petition by March next year.
Mr. Hussain, through his wife filed the petition challenging the August 26, 2020 proposal of EDMC by which he has been declared as terminated from his membership of the corporation and his seat declared as vacant as per Section 33(2) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957.
EDMC, represented by its standing counsel Gaurang Kanth, argued that Mr. Hussain was absent from the meetings of the corporation which was conducted in the month of January, February, June, July and August 2020. No meetings were conducted in March, April and May this year due to the pandemic situation. Mr. Kanth argued that if a councillor is not appearing for three such meetings, then that will invite action under the DMC Act.
EDMC had disqualified Mr. Hussain as a councillor for allegedly being absent from House meetings for three consecutive times without information.
