The Times of India     05.09.2012

Mangalore City Corporation now has 'marshals' for council meets

MANGALORE: Smartly dressed men in white uniform now guard the entry gates of Mangala council hall of Mangalore City Corporation. Regular employees of city corporation drawn from its various sections including town planning, and establishment, double up as 'marshals' to carry out orders of the Mayor as and when the council convenes under the city's first citizen.

These 'marshals' also regulate the entry to the visitors' gallery.Incidentally, BBMP at the first council meeting of the greater Bangalore civic body chaired by then Mayor SK Natraj had forwarded a resolution to the state government seeking services of 'marshals' to regulate unruly behaviour by corporators. But this has not fructified so far just as a similar resolution adopted by the city corporation here for regular marshals drawn from state police and a task force on lines of BMTF be set up locally as well.M Shankar Bhat, former mayor, during whose tenure such a resolution was adopted told TOI that the powers of 'marshals' should be well-defined so that they can discharge their duties effectively.

Else these 'marshals' who are regular employees run the risk of earning the ire of corporators in case the former evict the latter on directions from the Mayor. The government has also consistently denied our request for a BMTF like task force, he added.K Harish Kumar, commissioner said duty of 'marshals' is to regulate entry of officials and corporators from separate entrances at the council hall gates and enter the council on Mayor's direction. The white uniform given to the 'marshals' has letters MCC emblazoned on front pockets, shirt sleeve as well as their cap with green and yellow shoulder straps. Nonetheless, this is a first of its kind venture for any city corporation in the state, he avers.