Mayor’s powers in extended tenure questioned

Mangaluru: The powers of the mayor during his extended tenure to chair a council meeting at the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has been questioned by the opposition.
The tenure of BJP’s Premanand Shetty as mayor ended on March 1. However, since an election to the post of mayor, deputy mayor and standing committees was not held, Shetty has been continuing as acting mayor.
Opposition leader in MCC council AC Vinayaraj from Congress has sent a letter to the chief secretary, urban development department secretary and regional commissioner seeking directions to withhold decisions taken in the council meeting chaired by Shetty on May 31.
Vinayaraj told TOI that there is no provision for the mayor to chair council meetings in the absence of four standing committees.
“The tenure of the mayor and deputy mayor is one year as per the KMC Act and after one year, they can continue in the position till their successors are elected. However, there is no provision to convene a council meeting in the absence of standing committees. For this reason, Shetty has not chaired council meetings in March and April. However, without obtaining clarification from the government, a general meeting of the MCC council was held on May 31. This meeting has ratified the proceedings of the previous meeting held on February 25 and adopted resolutions on 49 agendas,” Vinayaraj said.
“I have requested the government to withhold all proceedings and resolutions of the council meeting held on May 31 until a clarification regarding the meeting was issued,” he said.
When contacted, Premanand Shetty said he had chaired the council meeting after holding discussions with officials of the urban development department.
“Mayors of city corporations in Shivamogga, Mysuru and Tumakuru also have chaired council meetings in a similar manner after their tenure ended. As per the KMC Act, the mayor and deputy mayor can continue in office, and I have held discussions in this regard with officials of the urban development department before convening the council meeting. When I chaired a meeting on May 31, all members, including those from the opposition, participated in discussions while adopting resolutions. Development works in the city will be affected if council meetings are postponed indefinitely. Hence, a meeting was held officially by following all due procedures,” Shetty said.