Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Feb 25: At the general session of the municipal council held here on Wednesday February 24, a number of councillors expressed their displeasure at the way the assistant commissioner (AC) here has been interfering with the affairs of the municipal council. They noted that the situation here has become strange with two administrative officers unlike anywhere else in the district entrusted with the same job, and resented the poking of noses in the municipal affairs by officials.

In general, there was a strong demand for recording objection of the council against the official interference and for passing of a resolution on those lines. At the session, which was chaired by municipal president, Jeevandhar Jain, opposition councillors resisted the above move.

Ruling party councillor, Rajesh Bannur, noted that this municipality has been ranked third among town municipalities and municipal councils in the district as far as progress is concerned. He pointed out that the district deputy commissioner has appointed the assistant commissioner to oversee development works of the council, although there are other bodies which have performed poorly. "The deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner do not have the power to interfere in municipality affairs. If they find any wrongs, the officials can only bring them to the notice of the state government. If officials from some other department are trying to control municipal administration, what is the relevance of the municipal council and municipal commissioner? It would be better if the council is dissolved. Otherwise, the step taken by the deputy commissioner might fore the councillors to resign en masse," he warned.

Leader of the opposition, Muhammed Ali, felt that the councillors have no need to discuss about the officials, as they have been appointed just for overseeing and monitoring work. He said that the assistant commissioner has been reviewing the progress of the municipality under instructions from deputy commissioner, and he is not interfering with the affairs of the municipality.

After heated discussions were held on the issue, councillor, Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, suggested to the members to study whether this practice is also being followed elsewhere in the state, and then to draw the attention of the government to the outcome of this study.

Municipal commissioner, Rekha J Shetty, welcomed and compered the proceedings.