MCD Mayoral Poll: Nominated Members Cannot Vote, Observes Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India, in an oral statement, observed that the nominated members cannot vote in the elections for the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, while hearing a plea related to the mayoral poll.

Senior lawyer, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioner, quoted Article 243R of the Indian Constitution stating that nominated members cannot be allowed to vote.

The court further adjourned the hearing on the joint petition filed by Shelly Oberoi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), challenging the Protem Presiding Officer, Satya Sharma's decision to permit nominated members to vote in the elections for mayor and deputy mayor in the MCD.

In the plea, the petitioners demanded time-bound elections to the post of MCD mayor, deputy mayor and members of the standing committee.

Recently, the House met for the third time this month to elect the mayor but the session ended in a stalemate amid uproar and sloganeering by members of the House.

The Delhi Lieutenant Governor, V K Sharma had given the go-ahead for conducting the fourth session on 16 February based on the Delhi government's proposal.

However, the court had ordered to keep the elections on hold and posted the matter for hearing on 17 February.

Earlier, Shelly Oberoi, AAP's mayoral candidate, had moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to hold elections in a time-bound manner. She later withdrew her plea.

The issue of the role of nominated members in the MCD elections remains unresolved, with the Supreme Court yet to hear the joint petition filed by the AAP and Shelly Oberoi.

(With inputs from PTI)