HC tells Kapurthala DC to discharge duties of mayor

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday instructed Kapurthala’s deputy commissioner to discharge the duties of the mayor and senior deputy mayor of the municipal corporation. The directive was clear: the DC must assume the responsibilities normally performed by the two officials, effectively removing them from active participation in council matters.

The mayor and senior deputy mayor, together with the deputy mayor, constitute the principal leadership of the Kapurthala municipal corporation, which manages local taxation, water supply, waste management and other civic services. The deputy commissioner, as the senior administrative officer for the district, is tasked with ensuring that municipal functions are carried out in accordance with law and court orders.

The High Court’s order came during a hearing on Tuesday, where the bench issued the directive to the DC. While the specific reasons for the intervention were not detailed, the court emphasized that the district administration must step in to maintain continuity of governance. The DC was asked to take over the mayoral and senior deputy mayoral functions until the matter is resolved or a new mayor is duly installed.

Such interventions are rare but have been observed in other districts where municipal bodies have faced administrative lapses. In Kapurthala, the municipal corporation continues to operate under the oversight of its elected representatives, but the court’s direction places the district administration in a temporary supervisory role. The DC’s compliance will be monitored, though no timeline for the transition has been specified.

Local officials and residents will observe the changes closely. The municipal corporation’s day‑to‑day operations may see minor adjustments as the DC coordinates with the remaining council members. The situation highlights the judiciary’s role in checking local governance and ensuring that elected officials fulfill their statutory duties.

Source: Hindustan Times