Public representatives to cast vote as ex-officio members as per Division Bench verdict: HC

The Telangana High Court disposed of a writ petition questioning the reported decision of Nirmal District Collector asking the public representatives to opt for the municipality to exercise their vote as ex-officio members to elect chairman and vice-chairman, after the government submitted that they would follow the HC’s earlier verdict in the matter.

A businessman from Nirmal, K. Narender, filed the petition seeking a direction to the Collector to adhere to the verdict delivered by a Division Bench of the HC in writ petition number 20262 of 2021 in the matter. Additional Advocate General T. Rajanikanth Reddy informed the bench of Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar that the petition was filed in a premature stage since it was based on news reports.

The government had not taken any specific decision in the matter of Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly, Members of Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha members opting for a specific urban body to use their vote in the election of chairman and vice-chairman of a municipality in their capacity of ex-officio members. The HC’s Division Bench in a judgement earlier said the public representatives should exercise their vote as ex-officio members in the election of chairman and vice-chairman of an urban civic body, provided they are registered in that municipal area as voter.