Day After Free For All In Delhi Civic House, HC Stays Standing Committee Election

New Delhi: A day after the civic centre of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) witnessed an ugly free for all among AAP and BJP’s councillors, the Delhi High Court on Saturday stayed the election to the municipal body’s standing committee.

Mayor Shelly Oberoi, who is from the ruling party (AAP), had declared one vote invalid and rescheduled the election of MCD’s crucial standing committee – which decides funding and projects — to Monday.

The Mayor’s decision triggered protests by BJP councillors, leading to councillors from both parties clashing with each other — punching, kicking, slapping and pushing one another.

The high court, hearing two petitions, observed that the Mayor violated regulations by announcing a new date to hold a re-election without declaring results of the previous election.

“The regulations nowhere reflect that the Delhi Mayor has the authority to declare the election to standing committee members as null and void,” Justice Gaurang Kanth said in the order.

Justice Kanth issued notices to the Mayor, Lieutenant Governor and MCD.

All but 8 of the 250 councillors in the AAP-run civic body had voted on Friday to select a six-member standing committee.