Court Rules In Favour Of BJP, Stays Mayor's Decision For Re-Election Of MCD Standing Committee Members

The re-election of six members of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been stayed by the Delhi High Court.

The court ordered a halt to the re-election, citing that the mayor does not have the authority to declare an election null and void, as per regulation 51.

The decision came after two BJP councillors, Shikha Rai and Kamaljeet Sehrawat, moved the court against Mayor Shelly Oberoi's decision to declare one vote invalid during the Standing Committee election.

The court has also issued notices to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and Mayor Shelly Oberoi, asking the mayor to preserve ballot papers, CCTV footage, and any other information related to the voting of the Standing Committee.

The BJP has claimed that three candidates from each party were to be elected to the Standing Committee, based on calculations made by technical experts and provided to the mayor.

Meanwhile, the mayor had earlier announced that elections for the Standing Committee would be held on February 27.

In a special Saturday hearing, the Delhi High Court stayed the mayor's notice for re-election of the Standing Committee members.

Justice Gaurang Kanth observed that the returning officer or mayor is conducting re-elections without declaring the results of the elections held on February 24, which violates Regulation 51 of the New Delhi Municipal Council (Procedure and Conduct of Business) Regulations, 1997.

The court's decision vindicates the BJP's position that the mayor do not hold the authority to invalidate a vote, and represents a significant setback for the AAP.