Ulhasnagar: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) to complete the process of appointing seven nominated corporators by September 25, dealing a setback to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and providing relief to the BJP, which had challenged its alliance partner’s decision to defer the process.The court also quashed the letter issued by Mayor Ashwini Nikam and Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale postponing the September 11 special general body meeting convened for the process.The order came during the hearing of a writ petition filed by BJP district president and UMC group leader Rajesh Vadhrya through advocate Monish Bhatia. A division bench of Justice G S Kulkarni and Justice Dr Neela Gokhale heard the matter for over an hour.The petitioners argued that the civic administration could not indefinitely keep the process in abeyance after applications had been invited and the special general body meeting scheduled.The mayor and municipal commissioner opposed the petition. Advocate representing former Shiv Sena corporator Pooja Bhoir also made submissions, stating that Bhoir had challenged her disqualification before the HC and that the matter was pending. Her counsel argued that the nominated corporator process should not be conducted until the issue was decided.The court, however, rejected the mayor and municipal commissioner’s communication postponing the meeting and directed the UMC administration to complete the selection process within 15 days, by September 25.The dispute had intensified after Nikam directed that the process be kept in abeyance, following which Awhale issued a communication postponing the filing of applications scheduled for September 7 and the September 11 special general body meeting. The BJP had alleged that the decision was taken without consultation.BJP former district president Pradeep Ramchandani had earlier said Shiv Sena had taken the decision without discussing it with its alliance partner.The HC verdict triggered celebrations in the BJP camp on Friday. Party workers gathered at the office of BJP MLA Kumar Ailani, distributed sweets, and hailed the HC order as a victory for democracy and due process.
