The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Thiagarajan is no longer Deputy Mayor'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 11, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Thiagarajan is no longer Deputy Mayor'

Staff Reporter

It boils down to legalities as the Congress leader and Mr. Thiagarajan clash.

CAUGHT IN A LEGAL BATTLE: The name board at Ripon Building's entrance clearly states the story of Chennai Corporation over the past few months. — Photo: K.Pichumani

CHENNAI: Congress floor leader in the Chennai Corporation council R. Mano has written to the Corporation Commissioner on Friday, urging him to call for election for a new Deputy Mayor on the grounds that R. Thiagarajan has disqualified himself as a councillor by not attending three consecutive council meetings and had hence lost his post.

In a letter, Mr. Mano stated that Mr. Thiagarajan had not attended the office for the last four months and had absented from the council meetings conducted on November 21, February 1 and February 2. The Congress councillor cited Section 53 of the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919 which stated that any councillor who does not attend three consecutive meetings is disqualified. Further under Section 29 of the same Act, the Deputy Mayor shall not hold office if he ceases to be a councillor.

Mr. Mano asked the Commissioner M.P. Vijayakumar to declare the Deputy Mayor's post as vacant and conduct election to the post. The Deputy Mayor is elected by councillors.

Thiagarajan responds

Mr. Thiagarajan, in a telephonic interview from Malaysia, where he claimed to be staying with his relatives, said those seeking his dismissal would first need togo to the Small Causes Court. He cited Section 54 of CCMC Act that states that disqualification under Section 53 can be challenged at the Small Causes Court and the Chief Judge shall determine the case. He further added that the writ he had filed before the Madras High Court challenging the legality of the Corporation Commissioner calling for the council meeting was still pending. "No one can arbitrarily say that I am disqualified."

Mr. Vijayakumar said the civic agency was examining the issue. Mr. Thiagarajan has claimed that his life was in danger and had been missing from the city for four months now. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had subsequently axed him from the AIADMK for `anti-party' activities.

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