In a recent turn of events at the Supreme Court, BJP councillor Raja Iqbal Singh withdrew his contempt plea against Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi concerning the election procedure for a vacant seat in the MCD’s standing committee. This decision came after the apex court’s suggestion that the matter would be more suitably addressed at the Delhi High Court.
The plea was initially filed due to what Singh described as “wilful and deliberate disobedience” by Mayor Oberoi in adhering to a Supreme Court order dated August 5. This order was to ensure elections for a standing committee vacancy caused by Ms. Kamaljeet Sehrawat, who moved to her new role as a Lok Sabha MP representing Ward No. 120 (Dwarka-B).
Senior Advocate Sonia Mathur represented Singh and acceded to the recommendation from Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, leading to the withdrawal of the plea. Following this, the Supreme Court dismissed the matter.
According to the plea, the election was initially scheduled but was postponed arbitrarily by Mayor Oberoi to October 5, 2024. This act was purportedly in defiance of the specified time frame of one month as mandated by the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, raising significant concerns over potential disruptions to the democratic process.
The situation intensified when Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena intervened, ordering the election to proceed on the designated day, only for it to be deferred again by the Mayor. This series of postponements sparked controversy over the proper execution of legal and democratic processes within the MCD.
Notably, despite the controversies and adjournments, the BJP managed to secure the last available seat on the MCD’s 18-member standing committee without opposition, as AAP councillors chose to abstain from voting.
