HC notice on mayor’s tenure extension embarrasses Sukhu government
Shimla: The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government has landed in legal trouble after the Himachal Pradesh High Court issued a notice to the Urban Development Department over the extension of Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan’s tenure from two-and-a-half years to five years.
Calling it a “major setback” for the government, BJP state spokesperson Sandeepni Bhardwaj said the court’s observations exposed the Congress regime’s “arbitrary and unconstitutional” decision. He said the High Court bench has given the government a “last opportunity” to respond, which clearly shows it has so far failed to satisfy the court.
“The notice proves that the Sukhu government brought an ordinance in violation of the law, the Constitution and democratic norms,” Bhardwaj alleged.
He said the petition has pointed out that the ordinance contradicts Section 36 of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act. “Despite this, the government went ahead and implemented it and even sent it to the Governor, where it did not get approval. This reflects sheer administrative and constitutional failure,” he added.
Targeting Mayor Surender Chauhan, whom insiders termed “Sukhu’s man Friday”, BJP said the move also exposed the Congress government’s “double standards” on women empowerment.
“As per the roster, the post of Shimla Mayor was reserved for a woman. By extending Chauhan’s tenure through an ordinance, the government openly violated women’s reservation and deliberately denied a woman the chance to become mayor,” he alleged.
The BJP spokesperson demanded that the current mayor resign on moral grounds in view of the seriousness of the matter.
“To uphold democratic values and the dignity of women’s reservation, Surender Chauhan should step down immediately so that a woman can get the opportunity to lead the municipal corporation,” he said.
Bhardwaj warned that if the Congress government continues to ignore the roster system and refuses to admit its mistake, the BJP will take the issue to the streets.
“From Shimla to across the state, we will launch a movement to protect women’s rights and the constitutional system,” he said.