The Hindu 17.12.2009
Gudiyatham municipal chairman dismissed
Special Correspondent
| 29 out of 35 councillors supported no-trust motion against him |
“G.O. issued based on council resolution expressing lack of confidence”
“SEC will notify date of election of new chairman”
VELLORE: The State government has dismissed the Gudiyatham municipal chairman, R.S. Sivaprakasam, of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, through an order by the Secretary, Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, dated December 10.
The dismissal follows the passing of a no-confidence motion against the chairman by a majority of councillors at a special meeting convened by S. Balasubramaniam, Regional Director of Municipal Administration (RDMA), Vellore, at the municipal office in Gudiyatham on October 21.
Thirty-one out of 35 surviving councillors attended the special meeting, and of them, 29 supported the motion, for which notice was given by 30 councillors, thus paving the way for the successful passing of the motion, which required the support of 80 per cent of the surviving members to be passed.
The protagonists of the motion expressed their lack of confidence in Mr. Sivaprakasam on the grounds that he did not regularly conduct the meetings of the municipal council, made frequent trips abroad, did not meet the public regularly to hear their grievances, acted arbitrarily in matters concerning the administration of the municipality and that he threatened the councillors.
Mr. Balasubramaniam told The Hindu that the Government Order was issued based on the council resolution, expressing lack of confidence in Mr. Sivaprakasam.
A copy of the G.O. was pasted in the house of Mr. Sivaprakasam in Gudiyatham on Tuesday.
He said that the Vice-Chairman, S. Soundararajan (DMK), would act as chairman till a new chairman is elected.
Asked when the election would be held to elect a new chairman, the RDMA said that the State Election Commissioner (SEC) would notify the date of election. After the SEC notifies the date, the Commissioner of the Gudiyatham Municipality would conduct the election and send a report to the SEC.
