Delhi civic body integration / Home Minister Amit Shah will present the amendment bill in Lok Sabha today, the number of wards will not exceed 250

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2022 in the Lok Sabha on Friday to amend the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 to merge the three municipal corporations of Delhi. The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the merger of the three municipal corporations of Delhi.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2022, to amend the Municipal Corporation of Delhi Act, 1957 to merge the three municipal corporations, is included in the Lok Sabha's business list on Friday. According to sources, after the merger of the three municipal corporations, there will be no more than 250 wards in the municipal corporation that will come into existence. In this way the delimitation of wards will be done and municipal elections are likely to be held after six to one year.

Apart from this, a senior IAS officer or a retired IAS officer will be appointed as administrator to take charge of the Municipal Corporation till the elections are not held. The three municipal corporations can now be dissolved at any time. According to sources, the bill proposes that the total number of wards of general councilors and scheduled caste councilors in the integrated municipal corporation will be determined by the central government through notification.

The number of wards will be decided on the basis of census. As per the provisions of the Bill, the total number of wards in the Municipal Corporation shall in no case exceed 250. The number of wards in the Integrated Municipal Corporation was increased from 134 to 272 in the year 2007 and the North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations, which came into existence after the bifurcation of the Municipal Corporation in the year 2012, also have 272 wards. The North and South Delhi Municipal Corporations have 104 wards each, while the East Delhi Municipal Corporation has 64 wards.

High Court seeks response from Election Commission

The High Court has sought a response from the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission in the matter of conducting the upcoming Municipal Corporation (MCD) elections through electronic machines (EVMs) having Voting Verification Slip (VVPAT) only. Justice Rekha Palli issued notices to both the election bodies asking them to file detailed affidavits to clarify whether the M-2 EVMs are VVPAT compliant or not. The court has fixed the matter for hearing on April 7. Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the Election Commission, said that the petition is not maintainable.