Punjab govt removes Mohali councillor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu

MOHALI, Punjab: The Government of Punjab removes Mohali Mayor Amarjeet Singh Sidhu from the position of councillor of the municipal corporation, which automatically disqualifies him from holding the position of mayor.

It is first such incident where the councillorship of a mayor has been nullified due to a conflict of interest. The mayor has a five-year term in the state of Punjab.

Earlier in August, local authorities received complaints that Amarjeet Singh presided over meetings of the finance and contract committee (F&CC) as the chairman, that too when tenders were being awarded to a society of which he was a member.

In response to this complaint, Punjab local bodies department, on September 17, sought response from Sidhu asking why he shouldn’t be removed from the office of councillor under Section 36 (F) of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976 for the violation of Section 63 of the same act. The section mandates that no member of the corporation can participate in a meeting where a decision is being taken on an issue concerning his interests without disclosing the same.   

The opposition complained that the accused allocated a total of 12 tenders worth ₹1.5 crore to Amritpreet Cooperative Society Limited, Phase 6.

The order passed by the Secretary of the Department of the Local Bodies, justifying the mayor’s removal, stated that the government was left with no choice as the accused violated Section 63 of the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act 1976.

Navjot Kaur, Commissioner of Mohali Municipal Corporation, said that they are yet to receive official communication from the department after which further proceedings will begin.

As Amarjeet Singh has been disqualified as the councillor, the process will begin to elect a new mayor as per the standard practice.

Although the Congress party holds the majority in the house, most councillors are in the Sidhu family’s camp. Duo have so much influence in the corporation that neither the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nor Congress could introduce a no-confidence motion against him when they joined Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in June. As the anti-defection law does not apply in the municipal corporation, Sidhu is being supported by the Congress party even though he has joined the rival party.