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DIGBOI: Following a long drawn debate, allegations and counter allegations over a period of time between a section of aggrieved ward commissioners and the chairman of Digboi Municipal Board (DMB), five disgruntled ward commissioners - Basant Pradhan, Bhaskar Jiban Baruah, Preety Kherwar, Bonti Chetia and Sushnata Bhattacharjee of ward no. 1,3,4,5,8 respectively served a legal notice to Shipra Mallick, the chairperson of the local civic body recently for her alleged failure to hold the mandatory board meetings and violating section 61 of the Assam Municipal Act, 1956.
According to the notice under reference number LN/10/02/2019 issued on 14.10.2019, no board meetings were ever called by the competent authority for approval or discussion regarding disbursement of funds received by the civic body from various sources, including the Central and State governments. Quoting the provisions of the guidelines, the notice states that as per section 61 of the Assam Municipal Act 1956, expenditure above Rs 5,000 must secure the due consent and approval of the Board which she miserably failed till date. The provision has been made mandatory vide memo No UDD(M) 74/2015/4-A dated 01.07.2015 issued by the Deputy Secretary to the Government of Assam, Urban Development Department.
The notice sought the chairperson to reconcile the entire issue with the aggrieved five ward commissioners immediately within 14 days of the receipt of the legal document. Out of nine wards under the jurisdiction, it is assumed that direct confrontation with majority ward commissioners might cost heavily for the chairperson.
Meanwhile when contacted, the chairperson of the DMB, Shipra Mallick categorically repudiated the allegations of the commissioners and said that the ward commissioners concerned, instead of focusing on the developmental works of their respective wards, were often found driven by narrow vested party politics.
According to her, the ward commissioners concerned had earlier initiated a no-confidence move against her which they miserably failed to prove on the floor of the house in the presence of a magistrate. “They are now exploring all possible means to dethrone me and obstruct the affairs of the organization,” she said.