Himachal High Court defers hearing on Shimla Mayor tenure extension case to November 27
Old photo used for indicative purpose only
Three BJP councillors made parties to the case; State asked to file detailed reply
Shimla, Nov 11,
The matter concerning the extension of Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor and Deputy Mayor term was heard once again in the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday.
The petition, filed by Advocate Anjali Soni Verma, challenges the state government’s decision to extend the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s tenure from two and a half years to five years, terming it unconstitutional and inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution.
Petitioner stated that incumbent Mayor Surinder Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal has taken oath for terms of two and half years however they could not countinue under their oath and their tenure is bound under previous rules. Petitioners stated that action of State government to increase tenure of Shimla MC to five years is in extraordinary since all the others Municipal corporation Mayor and Deputy Mayor are still 2 and half years.
During the hearing, the petitioner argued that the Sukhu government’s October 25 decision to extend the tenure through an ordinance was taken arbitrarily and without justification, particularly when the current term was about to end on November 14.
The petition claims that the amendment undermines the democratic principle of rotation and deprives a Scheduled Caste woman councillor—next in line under the reservation roster—of her legitimate opportunity to hold the mayoral office.
In a significant development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors Asha Sharma, Kamlesh Mehta, and Saroj Thakur have also moved applications seeking to intervene as parties in the case. The court accepted their pleas, allowing them to be impleaded as respondents.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiyalal Bhardwaj has directed the state government, the State Election Commission, and the Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor to file their detailed replies in response to the petition.
The next hearing in the case has now been scheduled for November 27.
It may be recalled that the Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, in its meeting held on October 25, had approved the decision to extend the Mayor’s and Deputy Mayor’s term from two and a half years to five years through an ordinance.
The move has sparked widespread political and constitutional debate in the state, as the opposition and several Congress councillors have questioned the legality and timing of the government’s action.
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The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
