Indian Express 11.06.2010
Election expenses to be recovered from disqualified corporator
Express News Service Tags : government, corporation Posted: Fri Jun 11 2010, 23:50 hrs
Pune: The election department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has started the disqualification process of corporator Malan Bhintade after the caste verification committee, on the directions of Bombay High Court, ruled that her caste certificate was invalid. The election department would initiate steps for recovering election expenses of the ward from Bhintade.“We have recieved the court order and initiated the process of disqualification of Bhintade,” said civic election officer Pravin Ashtikar.
The court order has been forwarded to the legal department for further action, he said adding the process for fresh election in the electoral ward will be started after the disqualification process is complete.
Bhintade, who was elected as an Independent from Rajiv Gandhi Zoo ward in Katraj area, had contested the 2007 civic elections from the electoral ward reserved for Other Backward Class (OBC).
However, BJP candidate Digambar Davri, after losing the election to Bhintade, had filed a complaint with the election commission saying Bhintade submitted fake caste certificate and that she actually belonged to the Maratha community.
The PMC election officer said the civic body will recover the cost of election expenses for the electoral ward from Bintade as per the provisions of law.
Meanwhile, PMC legal advisor Manjusha Idhate said the department will initiate action of disqualification as per the law. “I am not sure if any legal action can be initiated against Bhintade for producing fake document to the civic election department. Action will be taken as per the directions of the court,” she said.
Uniform: Education board gets 15-day ultimatum
With the academic year starting from Monday, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) standing committee on Thursday sent a letter to the education board directing them to provide uniforms to all civic school students within 15 days.
The PMC provides uniforms to all students in the civic schools but the actual delivery has been getting delayed every year due to controversy over procuring the uniform.
In a letter to the education board, chairman Arvind Shinde said the academic year is set to begin and the students should be provided the uniform well in time unlike the delay happening in the last few years.
“If the board fails to provide the uniform in the next 15 days, then the civic body will take the responsibility of procuring and distributing the uniform to students,” he said.
The standing committee had withdrew its power of purchasing uniforms and stationery for civic schools after frequent allegations about corruption.
However, the powers were restored after elected representatives urged that one more opportunity be given to the education board.
Meanwhile, based on the complaints of parents that some private schools in its jurisdiction were making it compulsory for them to purchase uniform for their kids from particular shops, the education board has directed all private schools to stop the practise failing which they will have to face de-recognition.
