Govt introduces bill to make way for mayor-in-council

The bill seeks to divide the corporation’s power structure into two committees – the mayor’s council headed by the mayor and an accounts committee headed by the leader of the opposition. The two committees would replace all the existing committees in the corporation including the all-powerful standing committee, the education committee, the improvement committee,the BEST committee and the wards committee. The minister said that this would lead to better coordination in municipal works and also increase efficiency.

The mayor-in-council, which would constitute elected members of the corporation, would have a tenure of two-and-a-half years. The strength of mayor’s council, however, would be flexible. Apart from the mayor, there would also be two other posts of a deputy mayor and a chairman of the council. While the tenure of the deputy mayor too would be of two-and-a-half years, that of the chairman would be only one year.

The chairman’s post would be reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women candidates in turns.

The accounts committee, which would be independent of the mayor’s council, would have eight members and the committee’s tenure would be one year. In event of the mayor-in-council failing in carrying out its duties or failing to respond to the state government’s instructions, the government would be empowered to dissolve the corporation.The right of dissolving the corporation was so far with the corporation, but it has been now transferred to the state government. To keep a tab on functioning of the mayor’s council, the municipal commissioner would send a confidential report on the performance of the council to the state government every month.