Now Reading: Nine Chandigarh MC table agendas passed without quorum
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Nine Chandigarh MC table agendas passed without quorum
Minutes of the July 31 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) House meeting, released on Tuesday, show that nine of the 16 table agendas were passed without the requisite quorum. The quorum under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law requires at least one-third of total members to be present. The House secretary pointed out the lack of quorum during the sixth table agenda, yet the mayor proceeded to pass all items, including agenda number 13 worth Rs 227 crore, one-third of the MC's annual budget.
Opposition councillors and even some BJP members have protested the passage of the agendas without discussion, particularly the costliest item, which lacked the standard expenditure notation. Councillor Kanwarjeet Rana, who joined online briefly, said he was unaware of the proceedings. An MC official denied the quorum was incomplete and said the minutes would be corrected if they reflect otherwise. No provision exists for completing quorum through online attendance, sources confirmed.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The quorum requirement under Section 58(1) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law is a procedural safeguard meant to prevent a small group from passing major financial decisions. Passing nine items without the mandated one-third presence, including a Rs 227 crore agenda, raises questions about the legality of those resolutions. If challenged, the resolutions could be void, potentially stalling projects and payments. The MC official's stated intent to 'correct' the minutes points to an attempt to retroactively fix a procedural breach rather than address the underlying violation. The real test will be whether the opposition moves court to quash the decisions or seeks a fresh vote.
Watch for: any legal challenge or a special House meeting to re-vote the disputed agendas.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
