Mohali MC meet adjourned after protests

Out of 25 councillors and one ex-officio member, 19 councillors, including the MC president, were present; however, all but three members declined to sign the attendance register as a mark of protest.

Bhatti told Newsline that they had issued the no-confidence letter to the president on May 28. As per the Act, the president has to call a meeting within 14 days of receiving the letter but instead he called the meeting on June 18. According to Bhatti: quot;No one turned up for that meeting; it was called again today but now it is illegal. After the expiry of his term, the requisitionists are authorised to call the meeting, not him.quot; Bhatti claimed the support of 17 councillors.

MC president Harinder Pal Singh said that the no-confidence motion had been defeated as his opponents could not muster the required majority. He said that in a letter dated June 18, the director, Local Government, instructed the executive officer to call a meeting regarding the issue. A meeting was called but only 14 councillors were present.

SAS Nagar Sub-Divisional Magistrate O. P. Popli, who was the observer at the meeting, said that the objection raised by the faction of councillors who have moved the no-confidence motion was correct, and no business was conducted in the House. The SDM will report to the concerned authorities in this regard.

Punjab Local Government Director Mandeep Singh said that he was not aware of the letter referred to by Harinder Pal Singh issued by his office in his yabsence.