Twitter
Advertisement

PIL challenges British tradition of BMC Mayor wearing gown in Bombay HC

The tradition entails the BMC Mayor to wear a gown, exhibiting a 'Raj Dand', in front of his dias while chairing the proceedings of the house

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Bombay High Court has seeked to end a British tradition being followed by the Mayor of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The tradition entails the BMC Mayor to wear a gown, exhibiting a 'Raj Dand', in front of his dias while chairing the proceedings of the house.

A division bench of Justice Shanatanu Kemkar and Justice Rajesh Ketkar has asked the petitioner, Prakash Kukreja, to amend his petition and make few corporation as parties, so that they can hear them out with regard to the rules governing this tradition.

It said "The order passed, if in favour of the petitioner, will be applicable to all corporations. It will be the duty of the State government to notify the corporations across state."

Kukreja, who was a secretary at a civic body, has claimed in the PIL that as per British rule, in many Municipal Corporations during the general body meetings, Mayors wore gowns with scaff and placed a Raj Dandh at their desk to exhibit prominence. However, there are no rule making the tradition mandatory and thus, it should be stopped.

Additional Government Pleader, Chandrakant Yadav, submitted an affidavit filed by Pandurang Jadhav, Joint secretary of Urban Development Department, which stated that, "There are no legal provisions/rules governing the aspect of attire by Mayors, sharing of dias by the Mayor with the deputy Mayor and exhibition of Raj dandh. 

Thus, no action can be initiated or directed to be followed by the civic bodies." The court has now posted the matter for further hearing on March 14

THE TRADITION

  • The tradition entails the BMC Mayor to wear a gown, exhibiting a ‘Raj Dand’, in front of his dias while chairing the proceedings of the house. The PIL says that there are no rules making the tradition mandatory an thus, it should be stopped right now. 
Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement