Mayor holds MC House meet sans BJP councillors, officials

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 21

Panchkula Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia, Councillors, held the MC House meeting today in the absence of Municipal Commissioner Dr Shaleen and other officials. Of 33 agenda items, 30 were passed by them while the decision on three was deferred. 

Yesterday, MC officials had called the councillors and had informed them that the meeting had been cancelled. But, the Mayor not only called the meeting but convened it too. 

The meeting lasted over an hour and 15 councillors, including the Mayor, attended it. The BJP and nominated councillor stayed away it. Panchkula and Kalka MLAs too did not turn up. Only the Congress, INLD and Independent councillors were present on the occasion. As there were no officials in the meeting, the Mayor’s personal assistant marked the attendance of councillors and recorded the proceedings.

Meeting was valid, says P’kula Mayor 

Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia said as per the apex court order, the meeting could be convened in the absence of officials due to which it was valid. The passed agenda items will be sent to the Municipal Commissioner, Local Bodies Department and the Haryana Chief Minister. She said they would not tolerate any kind of hurdle in the city’s development. “The meeting will be held every month and I will make sure that decision taken during the meeting are implemented,” the Mayor added. 

Only MC Commissioner  can convene it: BJP 

Deputy Mayor and BJP councillor Sunil Talwar said the House meeting was invalid. “Only the MC Commissioner can convene it. Moreover, proper advance time is given for it. The MC Commissioner had already cancelled it. Therefore, today’s meeting had no legal backing,” Talwar added.