MCD to hold special session on standing committee powers today; Delhi BJP calls move illegal

Vesting the powers of the standing committee to the House would give it the authority to pass proposals that could earlier only be passed after approvals from the standing committees. No financial proposals that exceed the limit of Rs 5 crore, including the budget, are passed without the approval of the standing committee.

The 18-member committee has been absent from the corporation for a year, and the matter is currently being challenged in court after the Aam Aadmi Party called for a fresh poll to elect six members of the statutory committee.

In a December 18, 2023, order, a judicial committee appointed by the Supreme Court had ordered the MCD to de-seal shops in seven markets within 100 hours — Old Rajinder Nagar, New Rajinder Nagar, GK’s N Block Market, Green Park Market, E Block Market in Hauz Khas, D block Market in South Extension, and Defence Colony Market.

Plans to de-seal shops in these markets will also be discussed in the special House meeting.

“The Special meeting of the House of Municipal Corporation of Delhi to hold a discussion on to vest the power of the standing committee to the house till the formation of the standing committee and to discuss and decide issues relating to de-sealing at local shopping centres will be held on Monday,” the MCD said in its invitation to the press.

However, Leader of Opposition Raha Iqbal Singh said no provision to vest the powers of the standing committee to the House exists under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.

“The DMC Act was enacted by Parliament. First, Parliament has to amend the DMC Act for this to happen. I don’t know why the Aam Aadmi Party is doing this. First, they will pass this agenda and then in future, they’ll claim that they were unaware of the rules,” the BJP leader said.