The Hindu : Front Page : Deputy Mayor faces disqualification from Council

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 01, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Deputy Mayor faces disqualification from Council

Karthik Subramanian

Action likely under Corporation Act if Thiagarajan misses Wednesday's meeting

CHENNAI: Deputy Mayor R. Thiagarajan, whose whereabouts are not known, could face disqualification of his councillor's post if he did not turn up for the Corporation Council meetings on Wednesday and Thursday.

Speculation is rife at Ripon Buildings, the Chennai Corporation headquarters, that the Council could recommend his disqualification if he missed the Council meeting for the third consecutive time. Mr. Thiagarajan, who has not been attending office for over three months now, missed the last meeting in November. With meetings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, there are no signs of him returning to the city. In his affidavit filed in a case challenging the call for the meeting, he claimed to be staying in Malaysia.

According to Section 53 of the Madras City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919, "a councillor shall cease to hold office if he fails to attend the meetings of the council for a period of three consecutive months beginning from the date of commencement of his term of office or of the last meeting he attended, as the case may be."

According to Section 54, the chief judge of the Small Causes Court will judge the decision over the disqualification of the councillor. The Commissioner, at the request of the Council, or on a direction from the Government shall apply to the Small Causes court for an order.

Congress floor leader R. Mano said the Deputy Mayor was trying to cause confusion in the proceedings even when he was absent.

"He does not have the time to attend the council yet he keeps writing letters and fixing dates when the other councillors should meet. This sort of behaviour is unacceptable."

DMK leader C.V. Malayan said the law would take its course. "If he does not attend three meetings in a row, he ceases to hold the post. There is nothing more to it." AIADMK councillors too said they would call for a disqualification. But none of them wanted to go on record.

The decision rests with the Chief Minister, they say. But the Council still has powers to restore the councillor in the event of disqualification.

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