Logo
Court Book - India Code App - Play Store

advertisement

Section 322

Power of Government to Dissolve Municipality in Case of Incompetency Or Having Less Than Two Third Elected Members

(1) If at any time the State Government is satisfied that the Municipality is not competent to perform, or persistently makes default in the performance of the duties imposed on it by or under this Act or otherwise by law, or has exceeded, or abused its powers, the State Government may, by an order published alongwith the reasons thereof, in the Official Gazette, declare the Municipality to be incompetent or in default, or to have exceeded or abused its powers, as the case may be, and may dissolve such Municipality as from a date to be specified in the order of dissolution: Provided that no action shall be taken under this subsection unless the Municipality through its Chairperson has been afforded a reasonable opportunity of submitting an explanation and of being heard, if the Municipality so desires: Provided further that no order under this sub-section shall be passed- (i) unless the State Government has drawn up a statement setting out distinctly the charges against the Municipality and sent the same for inquiry in the prescribed manner and findings to a Tribunal consisting of a Chairman and not less than two members, constituted in the prescribed manner, or (ii) otherwise than in conformity with such findings. Explanation.-If for any reason the number of vacancies in a Municipality exceeds two-thirds of the total number of seats, the Municipality shall be deemed to be not competent to perform the duties imposed on it by or under this Act. (2) The State Government shall dissolve the Municipality if at any time the number of its elected members falls short of two third of its total members. (3) When a Municipality is dissolved under sub-section (1) or any other provision of this Act, the following consequences shall ensue: - (a) all members of the Municipality including the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson shall, on the date specified in the order of dissolution, vacate their respective offices but without prejudice to their eligibility for reelection or re-appointment; and (b) all powers and duties of the Municipality shall, during the period of dissolution, be exercised and performed by such officer as an Administrator as the State Government appoints in this behalf. (4) An election to constitute a Municipality shall be completed before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of its dissolution: Provided that where the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Municipality would have continued is less than six months, it shall not be necessary to hold any election under this sub-section for constituting the Municipality for such period. (5) A Municipality constituted upon the dissolution of Municipality before the expiration of its duration shall continue only for the remainder of the period for which the dissolved Municipality would have continued under section 7 had it not been so dissolved. (6) An order of dissolution made under this section together with statement of the reasons thereof shall be laid before the House of the State Legislature, as soon as may be, after it has been made.