Ex-BMC commissioners can be councillors

With the new Government Resolution (GR) coming into force, apart from degree-holder professionals, retired municipal commissioner can now become a nominated councillor in the civic body.

Now, any retired municipal commissioner with the experience of two years will be able to become nominated corporator without elections.

The GR, dated 28 February 2012, has suggested that political parties can nominate retired CEO of municipal council, assistant commissioner of any ward for the councillor’s post.

While deputy municipal commissioners with five years of experience can be nominated, municipal commissioner with two years of experience can become a corporator.

As the GR clearly suggests that the nominated corporator should either be a registered medical practitioner, engineer, advocate, or a retired academician with five years of experience, leaving very little scope for the uneducated politicians or the ex-corporators.

The GR was issued keeping in mind the new additions made to the rules, which were applicable in 2007. The changed rules will be now known as the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (Qualifications and Appointment of the nominated councillors) Rules, 2012.

Though the GR has left no option for the uneducated candidates, one of the sections, refers to the candidates who will have experience as an office-bearer of a non-government organization registered under the Bombay Public trust Acts, 1950. The candidate should be engaged in social welfare activities working within the area of municipal corporation or council.

Though none of the political parties would want to show any interest in nominating any bureaucrat, with the new GR, political parties will have very less choice amongst their prospective candidates.