Belgaum Corporation superseded again

Citing the anti-Kannada stand and irregular conduct of meetings by its ruling group, the state government on Tuesday superseded the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) - the second time after it had done the same on December 15, 2011.

In its fresh order issued on Tuesday, the government mentions the ‘insult’ meted out to Jnanpith awardee Chandrashekhar Kambar, who hails from the district, for refusing to accord a civic reception to him.

A few former corporators — Sanjeev Prabhu, Ratan Masekar, Suresh Redekar, former deputy mayor Renu Killekar and Netaji Jadhav — met BCC Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis on Monday and submitted a memorandum to her, urging her to hand over their respective charges at BCC. However, they were told the government will take a final decision on the issue.

The supersession was, however, struck down by the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court on June 19 this year when its corporators took the issue to court. The court instructed officials of the Urban Development Department to conduct a meeting of the corporators and collect their opinion on the supersession — which kindled their hopes. It had also stated that taking over the elected body was the government’s prerogative.

Govt targeting BCC?

Many corporators had stated that with the government itself in a precarious position, it cannot take a decision for them. They were confident that the government cannot dissolve the corporation again.

Former corporator Sanjeev Prabhu, who had filed a petition on the issue, told Express that if the government was intent on targeting the BCC, then all of their actions were rendered useless. “Let all the former corporators unite and decide about the next step of action.”

“There are many corporations against which action has not been taken despite rampant corruption in them. But the BCC has been superseded for the third time. What credibility does the government’s decision have if only last year we were awarded for our outstanding performance?” he added. Prabhu added that the fact that BCC comprises Kannada and Urdu corporators should have been the rationale behind the decision.