Corporators debunk officials

PUNE, Dec 22: In a show of solidarity, the elected representatives made mince meat out of the civic officials' penchant for throwing law ...

PUNE, Dec 22: In a show of solidarity, the elected representatives made mince meat out of the civic officials8217; penchant for throwing law books at them over their right to ask priority questions in the House. They made no bones about their disgust at the manner in which the civic administration was misguided due to the alleged misinterpretation of court orders by the Pune Municipal Corporation8217;s legal eye.

There has been simmering discontent amongst the corporators over Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal8217;s directive based on the Pune Municipal Court judge junior division Shiv Motriya8217;s interim order stating that there was no need to secure the presence of all the officers at the time of the corporation meetings. The Mayor has also been told not to admit priority questions and point of information from the next general body meeting while restricting the question hour session to half an hour.

Agarwal told the House at the outset that he would not be able to answer questions of the previous adjourned meeting as the matter was pending in court. He substantiated his decision not to answer queries as advised by the law officer.

BJP Corporator Ujwal Keskar instantly pointed out the absence of officers concerned with the day8217;s agenda at the meeting and sought to know what legal action Agarwal would take against them. Corporators Shiva Mantri and Aba Bagul too sarcastically demanded that would the House remain shut in future if the officers were not present at the meeting.

The corporators including Leader of the House in the PMC Chandrakant Chhajed and party leader Ulhas Dhole Patil turned their ire on the legal advisor R A Thorat for allegedly misguiding the commissioner when he had obtained the certified copy of the order nearly an hour after Agarwal had stated that he would not be able to answer questions.

8220;We have wasted 50 minutes of the city8217;s development due to the incorrect advice provided by Thorat to Agarwal,8221; Arun Dhimdhime charged.

While Thorat clarified that the legal department had received the court8217;s operative order on December 15, according to the certified copy, those questions which had not been answered in the previous meeting could be asked at the next. Following this submission there was another hue and cry in the House regarding how the commissioner had been misguided with several corporators like Ankush Kakade even alleging that 80 per cent of the PMC officials were inept and a sizable officers8217; lobby had been formed which conspired against Agarwal.

Story continues below this ad

8220;The target is not us, but you Mr Commissioner,8221; Kakade and Bagul dramatically claimed. The House was adjourned after the corporators unanimously condemned the manner in which the administration was being misguided by the officials and demanded immediate action against them.

Earlier, Agarwal also assured the House to provide them with written copies of the minutes of earlier meetings.