Bills on local bodies faces opposition in TN assembly

Bills to replace ordinances that were issued to extend the terms of Special Officers till June 30 to administer local bodies in Tamil Nadu were today introduced in the state Assembly, amid opposition by the DMK, Congress and the IUML.
Also, a Bill to enhance penalties for contravening the provisions of Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act 1919 and another Bill to amend TN Court Fees and Suits Valuation Act, 1955 aimed at rationalisation of fee structure were introduced.
All the bills were opposed by the DMK, Congress and the IUML at the introductory stage itself.
Through separate ordinances issued in October last year, Special Officers were appointed to administer village panchayats, panchayat union councils, district panchayats, town panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations till December 31 as the local body elections could not be held on expiry of the tenure of the existing bodies.

The ordinances were issued as Madras High Court had cancelled the local body polls scheduled for October 2016, and ordered issuance of a fresh notification and complete the poll process before Dec 31, 2016.
Later, the tenure of the special officers was extended till June 30, 2017 by another set of ordinances.
Municipal Administration Minister S P Velumani moved the Bills stating that the government had decided to extend the terms of offices of the special officers till June 30 as the State Election Commission had pointed out that the Class X and XII board exams were being held till April, 2017.

The school premises and teaching staff, required for polling purposes, would be available only after April.