Mayor (India)

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In India, a mayor is the ceremonial head of a city's municipal corporation and is often referred to as the first citizen of the city. The mayor's role is primarily ceremonial and lacks executive powers, with the municipal commissioner serving as the executive head of a municipal corporation. The method of electing mayors—whether directly or indirectly—depends on state legislation. [1]

Contents

Municipal corporation mechanisms in India was introduced during British Raj with formation of municipal corporation in Madras (Chennai) in 1688, later followed by municipal corporations in Bombay (Mumbai) and Calcutta (Kolkata) by 1726. [2] However the process of introduction for an elected president in the municipalities was made in Lord Mayo's Resolution of 1870. Since then the current form and structure of municipal bodies followed is similar to Lord Ripon's Resolution adopted in 1882 on local self-governance. The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 was introduced providing for the transfer of 18 different powers to urban local bodies, including the election of a mayor and to recognise them which included municipal corporations, Nagar Panchayats, Municipal Councils. [3]

History and administration

Many municipal corporations which are headed by mayors, till the early 1990s were under the full control of the local governments with little functional, financial and administrative autonomy to the mayors. [4] However, with the introduction of The 74th Amendment Act of 1992 made provision for the urban local bodies (ULB) as self-governing institutions. Since it came into operation in April 1993, many salutary provisions were made in the Act with positive outcomes. [5] However steps are being taken to dilute the powers of the local governments and heads of corporations or Mayors to have complete control of urban local bodies. [6] [7] [8]

A mayor of a city though formally elected from amongst the corporators holds a ceremonial post and Municipal commissioner of Corporation [9] and his staff who are drawn from the IAS cadre and appointed by the state government controls The executive, financial and administrative powers in the corporation. [6]

Election and tenure

The method of electing mayor and their tenure varies for each city in India. In Bengaluru (Karnataka) the election process is indirect with a tenure being for one year, in Mumbai (Maharashtra) it follows indirect elections with tenure for 2.5 years and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) follows a directly elected mayor with a term for five years. [10]

Indian States of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Odisha had created respective provisions in the Acts governing Municipalities for the direct election of Mayors by citizens of cities. [7] [11] [12]

Tenure of mayors of cities in India varies from one year to five years. [12]

Roles and responsibilities

Role of the mayor. [13]

1) Governs the local civic body.

2) Fixed tenure varying in different towns.

3) First citizen of city.

4) Has two varied roles – Representation and upholding of the dignity of the city during ceremonial times and a presiding over discussions of the civic house with elected representatives in functional capacity.

5) The mayor's role is confined to the corporation hall of presiding authority at various meetings relating to corporation.

6) The mayor's role extends much beyond the local city and country as the presiding authority at corporation meetings during visits of a foreign dignitary to the city as he is invited by the state government to receive and represent the citizens to the guest of honour.

7) At government, civic and other social functions he is given prominence.

Important actions

1. In 2021, All-India Mayor's Council held its 111th Convocation in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India, with where the council head and mayors of different states of India demanded rule of one nation and one election. [14]

Related Research Articles

In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well as the means by which a mayor is elected or otherwise mandated. Depending on the system chosen, a mayor may be the chief executive officer of the municipal government, may simply chair a multi-member governing body with little or no independent power, or may play a solely ceremonial role. A mayor's duties and responsibilities may be to appoint and oversee municipal managers and employees, provide basic governmental services to constituents, and execute the laws and ordinances passed by a municipal governing body. Options for selection of a mayor include direct election by the public, or selection by an elected governing council or board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal commissioner (India)</span>

In India, the municipal commissioner or municipal secretary is the chief executive and administrative head of a municipal corporation. Unlike the mayor, who is the ceremonial head and is either directly or indirectly elected, the municipal commissioner is a civil servant appointed by the state government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Municipal Corporation of Delhi</span> Municipal Corporation in National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is the municipal corporation that governs most of Delhi, India. The MCD is among the largest municipal bodies in the world providing civic services to a population of about 20 million citizens in the capital city Delhi. It is headed by the Mayor of Delhi, who presides over elected councillors from 250 wards. The municipal corporation covers an area of 1,397.3 km². The annual budget of the corporation is above ₹16,000 crore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune Municipal Corporation</span> Local governing body of Pune

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is the civic body that governs the inner limits of Pune, India. It is in charge of the civic needs and infrastructure of the metropolis, which is spread over an area of 484.61 sq. km. and has 3.4 million residents. Established on 15 February 1950, the executive power of the PMC is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by the Government of Maharashtra. The position is held by Vikram Kumar, IAS.The general body of the PMC consists of 162 directly elected councilors, popularly known as "corporators", headed by a mayor. Murlidhar Mohol (BJP) was elected as the mayor and Sunita Wadekar as the deputy mayor by the newly elected in April 2021. The land for Pune Municipal Corporation was donated by Late Hon. Shri. Bhausaheb Shirole (Patil) who was second Mayor of Pune city and later became an MLC. The Pune Municipal Corporation has launched an e-Governance initiative, with the goal of leveraging Information Technology to mobilize Government resources and optimize their utilization in order to provide a superior level of service.

A municipal corporation is a type of local government in India which administers urban areas with a population of more than one million. The growing population and urbanization of various Indian cities highlighted the need for a type of local governing body that could provide services such as healthcare, education, housing and transport by collecting property taxes and administering grants from the state government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation</span> Local governing body of Pimpri-Chinchwad

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is the civic body that governs Pimpri-Chinchwad which includes Pimpri, Akurdi, Chinchwad, Nigdi, and the remainder of the northwestern city limits of Pune, India. It was established on 11 October 1982. It governs an area of 181 km2 with a population of 1.72 million. The executive power of the PCMC is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by the Government of Maharashtra. The position is held by Shekhar Singh (IAS) during the pandemic in late December 2020. The general body of the PCMC consists of 128 directly elected councilors, popularly known as "corporators", headed by a mayor. Rahul Jadhav (BJP) was elected as the mayor and Sachin Chinchwade (BJP) as the deputy mayor in August 2018. The PCMC headquarters is situated on the Old Pune Mumbai Highway alongside the freeway in the city of Pune.

Local bodies in Tamil Nadu constitute the three tier administration set-up in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a system of local government which forms the last level from the Centre. Chennai Corporation in the then Madras Presidency, established in 1688, is the oldest such local body not only in India but also in any commonwealth nations outside United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation</span> Administrative body for the city of Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), or Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) is the governing civic body of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucknow Municipal Corporation</span> City governing body of Lucknow, India

Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is a local government for Lucknow, the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration in the city of Lucknow. In 2021, LMC passed a budget of 1946.82 Crore INR for the financial year 2021-2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ujjain Municipal Corporation</span> Government of Ujjain, Madha Pradesh, India

Ujjain Municipal Corporation is the governing body of the city of Ujjain in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tambaram City Municipal Corporation</span> Local Government of Tambaram City

Tambaram City Municipal Corporation (TCMC) is a local government of the City of Tambaram within the Chennai Metropolitan Area of Tamil Nadu, India. It covers an area of 87.64 sq. km in the Chengalpattu district, and has an estimated 2021 population of 960,887.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meerut Municipal Corporation</span> Local civic body in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India

The Meerut Nagar Nigam (MNN) also known as Meerut Municipal Corporation (MMC) is the civic body that governs Meerut city. Established under the Uttar Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act-1959, it is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batala Municipal Corporation</span> City governing body in India

The Batala Municipal Corporation is a nagar nigam which administers the city of Batala, Punjab. It has 50 members elected with a first-past-the-post voting system and 1 ex-officio member which is MLA for Batala. In 2019 Government of Punjab decided to upgrade Batala Municipal council into Municipal Corporation, earlier it was a municipal council.

Local government in Salem comprises three tiers of administration in the west district of Tamil Nadu, below the central government of India. Salem district was the first district created in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moga Municipal Corporation</span> Local civic body in Moga, Punjab, India

The Moga Municipal Corporation is a nagar nigam which administers the city of Moga, Punjab. It has 50 members elected with a first-past-the-post voting system and 1 ex-officio members which is MLA for Moga Assembly Constituency. The corporation was founded 2011, and the first elections were held in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amritsar Municipal Corporation</span> Local civic body in Amritsar, Punjab, India

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation is a nagar nigam which administers the city of Amritsar, Punjab. It has 85 members elected with a first-past-the-post voting system and 5 ex-officio members which are MLA for [Assembly Constituency members]. The corporation was founded 1977, and the first elections were held in 1991.

References

  1. ↑ Jha, Ramanath (4 September 2018). "Strengthening municipal leadership in India: The potential of directly elected mayors with executive powers". orfonline.org. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Gupta, Anupam. "City Mayors: Indian Mayors". citymayors.com. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Why Rahul Gandhi's promised 'mayoral reforms' are important for India's cities". Citizen Matters. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Directly Elected Mayors A Step towards Democratic Urban Governance". epw.in. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  5. ↑ S, Swaminathan (9 February 2021). "View: India needs empowered cities to nurture elected mayors for top political jobs". economic times. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Directly elected mayor: An idea whose time has come". Hindustan Times. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Odisha government for 'direct election' of mayors". TelegraphIndia. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  8. ↑ "2 more states roll out reforms for common man; get additional funds from Centre amid pandemic". financialexpress.com. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  9. ↑ Iyengar, Radhika (21 February 2017). "Can we have a mayoral committee govern our cities?". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Rahul Gandhi wants to directly elect mayors. But is it a workable idea for India?". The Print. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  11. ↑ "Leaders welcome direct election for Mayor". tribuneindia. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  12. 1 2 "In need for a comprehensive institutional reform in India: implementing a directly elected executive mayor with mayor-in-council system". iglus.org. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  13. ↑ "What does the Mumbai mayor do?". Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  14. ↑ "Mayors' council demands one-nation, one-election rule for Ma". Times of India. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
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