Nagpur, Feb 27 (UNI) The authority given by the state government to the Mayor to co-opt five members to the general body of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has been challenged before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court.

In his writ petition challenging the Mayor's authority to nominate the members, social worker Bhalchandra Joshi has said the process was arbitrary and in violation of the provisions of the City of Nagpur Corporation (CNC) Act.

Admitting the petition, a Division Bench consisting of Justice Ambadas Joshi and Justice R C Chavan posted the petition for further hearing tomorrow (February 28).

The petitioner said the CNC Act was amended in December 1996 to provide for election of the co-opted members through secret ballot by the directly elected members of the general body. However, the Government of Maharashtra issued a notification on February 21, 2007, authorising the Mayor to nominate the five co-opted members, without amending the relevant section in the Act, he pointed out.

This was an infringement of the NMC's authority to frame the rules for the election, and an 'undeclared' amendment in the law by the state government, he also contended.

UNI