A Bench of Justice GS Sistani and Justice Jyoti Singh of the Delhi High Court, directed the Delhi Government, and Speaker of Legislative Assembly of Delhi to file a reply on the allegations of discriminatory appointment of Municipal Councillors.
The court was hearing a plea filed by BJP MLA and leader of opposition in the Delhi Assembly – Vijendra Gupta. It has been contended that the Speaker of the Assembly has nominated all thirteen members from the Aam Aadmi Party for appointing Municipal Councillors.
“The speaker has not nominated even one MLA from the opposition during the appointment of Municipal Councillors. The same set of members are being appointed every year due to the discriminatory behaviour of the speaker”, the petition further read.
According to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, the speaker of the assembly is empowered to nominate Municipal Councillors every year. However, the Act also states that the Speaker while nominating must ensure that all the MLAs irrespective of their political parties should be given an opportunity of being represented.
The Central Government, Delhi Government, Lt Governor, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Delhi have been directed to submit their reply to the Court in a span of four weeks. The Court is scheduled to further hear the matter on 27th September 2019.
–India Legal Bureau