Ruckus In MCD House As BJP Opposes Proposal On Standing Committee, Security Forces Deployed — WATCH

MCD Ruckus: BJP councillors protested during a special session of the MCD House as they were demanding the formation of a standing committee.

Opposition councilors shout slogans over special meetings on a discussion on to vest the power of standing committee to the House till their formation and to discuss and decide issues relating to de-sealing at local shopping centres, at the Civic Centre in New Delhi, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. ( Image Source :PTI )

A dramatic episode unfolded in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Monday as a special session witnessed chaos with opposition councillors storming into the well, climbing atop Mayor Shelly Oberoi's desk, and tearing papers. The session was called to discuss the important issues of vesting powers of the standing committee in the House till the time the panel is reconstituted and de-sealing of shops in Delhi markets, reported news agency PTI.

As per a PTI report, the reconstitution of the 18-member standing committee, the highest decision-making body of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) that is responsible for making all financial decisions, has been pending for the last 10 months. BJP councillors were protesting inside the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) house. They were demanding the formation of a standing committee, reported news agency ANI.

VIDEO | Ruckus in #MCD House in Delhi as BJP protests against setting up of standing committee.

The special session of the MCD House is being held today. pic.twitter.com/cbDlBYPJ4O

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 15, 2024

VIDEO | Opposition leaders protest inside the MCD House against the proposal to take over the responsibilities of the standing committee, which manages all the financial decisions, by the House. pic.twitter.com/eSxeIXxbSc

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 15, 2024

According to ANI, security forces have been deployed at the MCD house.

#WATCH | Delhi: Security forces deployed at the MCD house amid ruckus by BJP councillors; MCD proceedings underway pic.twitter.com/3Yv9DITrym

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2024

The moment Mayor Shelly Oberoi entered the House, opposition members started raising slogans such as "Tanashahi nahi chalegi" and "Samvidhan ki hatya band karo." They stormed into the well of House. Some of them even climbed atop the mayor's desk, tore the proposal papers, and threw the torn pieces in the air, reported PTI.

MCD Ruckus — 'Vesting Powers Of Standing Committee Invalid And Unconstitutional': BJP 

Opposition leader Raja Iqbal Singh slammed the ruling AAP, saying "vesting the powers of the standing committee in the House would be invalid and unconstitutional. The House cannot take over the standing committee's powers as there is no such provision in the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act".

Due to the absence of a Standing Committee for more than a year, the MCD is in a state of complete policy paralysis. The formation of the panel remained stuck in a political and legal impasse. 

The AAP won the MCD elections in December 2022, but the corporation has been functioning without a standing committee since then. At present, this issue is still under consideration by the Supreme Court. The Delhi High Court's decision on this issue was in favor of the BJP, which was challenged by Mayor Shelly Oberoi who approached the Supreme Court.

The delay in the reconstitution of the standing committee has affected the MCD's financial matters with several proposals pending. According to the rules, proposals above Rs 5 crore cannot pass without the committee's approval, as per PTI.