Ulhasnagar: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) to complete the appointment process for seven nominated corporators by Sept 28, granting the civic body a three-day extension from the Sept 25 deadline earlier set by the Bombay High Court, reports.The order was passed after Ulhasnagar mayor Ashwini Nikam and two disqualified Shiv Sena corporators moved the Supreme Court, challenging the High Court’s order and seeking to defer the process until the petitions challenging the corporators’ disqualification are decided.During the hearing, counsel for the two disqualified corporators argued that holding the nominated corporator appointment process before the High Court decides their disqualification petitions would prejudice their rights. The contention was opposed by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocate Monish Bhatia, appearing for BJP UMC group leader Rajesh Vadhrya.The mayor’s counsel sought a one-week postponement, citing the ongoing Ganpati festival. The BJP opposed the request, arguing that the nomination process had already been completed. The Supreme Court allowed limited additional time and, since Sept 27 falls on a Sunday, fixed Sept 28 as the deadline to complete the process.The court also directed that the petitions challenging the disqualification of the two corporators should continue before the regular bench of the Bombay High Court. It did not accept the request to keep the nominated corporator appointment process in abeyance until those petitions are decided.During the hearing, the mayor’s counsel also requested the Supreme Court to delete certain observations made by the High Court against the mayor. The Supreme Court accepted the request and directed that the observations be removed.The dispute arose after two Shiv Sena corporators were disqualified, reducing the party’s claimed share of nominated corporator posts from four to three. Before the nomination process began, the two corporators informed the mayor that they had challenged their disqualification in the High Court and requested that the process be kept on hold until their pleas were decided.After seeking legal advice, the mayor directed the civic administration to defer the process indefinitely. The BJP challenged the decision, alleging that the process had been stalled without consulting its alliance partner and in violation of the prescribed procedure.On September 11, the Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition filed by BJP district president and UMC group leader Rajesh Vadhrya through advocate Monish Bhatia, directed the UMC to complete the appointment process for nominated corporators by Sept 25. The court also quashed letters issued by the mayor and municipal commissioner Manisha Awhale postponing the special general body meeting called for the process.Following the High Court order, the UMC resumed the nomination process and scheduled a general body meeting for Sept 24 for the next stage. The Supreme Court’s latest direction extended the deadline for completing the process to Sept 28, while the disqualification petitions of the two Shiv Sena corporators will continue before the High Court.Bhatia told TOI, “The appointment process for nominated corporators will now be completed on Sept 28 in accordance with the Supreme Court’s direction.”BJP functionaries described the order as a significant development, while the Shiv Sena’s request to defer the process until the disqualification cases are decided was not accepted.
