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Journalism of Courage
JANUARY 7: The issue of the erring law officer still dogs the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The standing committee was adjourned today over the issue of resumption of duty by civic law officer A H Chheda.
Chheda had reported back to work on January 1 after being given a clean chit by Deputy Municipal Commissioner S R Dange for not representing the education committee chairperson and Shiv Sena corporator Neeta Naik in a contempt case in the Bombay High Court.
He added that the civic administration was trying to clandestinely avoid further embarrassment.
The adjournment motion was unanimously supported by all corporators, who blamed the BMC for playing a 8220;dirty game8221; with their sentiments. 8220;The BMC is not a private limited company run by the commissioner that he can take independent decisions,8221; said Congress corporator K A Bastiwala. 8220;The administration is trying to bulldoze corporators. The BMC should stop treating us as untouchables,8221; he added.
Questioned independent corporator Niyaz Ahmed Vanu, 8220;If Chheda was found innocent in the preliminary inquiry, why was another summary inquiry conducted against her?8221; He alleged that decisions were being taken keeping corporators in the dark.
Nandu Satam said Gaikwad had himself admitted a serious lapse on Chheda8217;s part. 8220;The fact that the inquiry report was not tabled before the corporators has proved that BMC was trying to hide the truth,8221; he said.8220;Mayor Vishakha Raut had suggested an inquiry into the matter by Joint Commissioner Dattaji Desai, but instead of getting the matter investigated by an experienced legal person, the BMC chose somebody like Dange,8221; he added.
Additional Commissioner Sharvaree Gokhale admitted that she had been ordered to initiate a summary inquiry into the matter, but refused to disclose any details. 8220;The commissioner8217;s decision was recently conveyed to me, and I am in no position to say anything on the issue. I still have no idea of the terms and scope of the inquiry that I am supposed to conduct,8221; she said.
