HC seeks response on plea to merge civic bodies

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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday asked the lt. governor, and the East, South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations to respond on a PIL seeking direction to merge the three civic bodies, trifurcated in 2012 by the then Sheila Dikshit government.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath sought response from lt. governor and the municipal corporations by March 23.

The PIL filed by Sharad Tiwari told that court through advocate Sugriva Dubey told the court that due to trifurcation, the corporations have been facing fund problem.

"Due to partition of the MCD into three zones the problem of fund arises. Funds are being given to the officers and to politically-appointed persons such as three chairman, three deputy chairman, three commissioners, three deputy commissioners, and three CEOs," said the plea.

"The AAP government wants the corporations to be accountable to it, while corporations are financially dependent of the state government. Corporations don't want any government interference in their functioning. But there is an element of politics in this too as AAP is planning to contest the municipal election in April 2017," the plea added.

The plea said while the employees of civic bodies are not getting their salaries, all legislators including ministers and chief minister are receiving their salaries and allowances regularly without any default.

"The salary of Delhi's MLAs has been enhance from Rs.35,000 per month to Rs.1,65,000 per month and their salaries plus allowances are being given regularly but sanitation workers are not being paid," said the petition.