New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday reinstated Solan Mayor Usha Sharma in her post for the remainder of her tenure, saying her disqualification was a case of “political goondaism”.
The matter was heard by a bench comprising justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh. The apex court made its August 20, 2024 order absolute. The apex court had stayed her disqualification while terming her removal “a case of male bias.”.
“The interim order of August 20, 2024, is made absolute. Any interference with the order will invite consequences,” said the bench while adjourning the matter after a year.
During the hearing, a counsel, representing Sharma, urged the apex court to make its interim order of last year absolute and informed the bench her tenure will be completed next year. A counsel, representing the respondents, tried to interject. At this juncture, the bench said it does not want to pass any strictures in the order at present, as it is a case of “political goondaism”.
The apex court in August last year had issued notice on a plea filed by Sharma and former mayor Poonam Grover. The petitioners moved the apex court against the June 2024 order of the high court upholding their disqualification. The apex court had kept in abeyance the fresh election for the post of the mayor of Solan in Himachal Pradesh till further orders.
“Meanwhile, the operation of the order dated June 10, 2024, disqualifying the petitioners as councillors of ward no.12 and ward no.8 of the Municipal Corporation, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, as well as the operation of the impugned judgement of the high court dated June 25, 2024, shall remain stayed. Resultantly, the first petitioner shall be allowed to continue and perform her duties as mayor of the municipal corporation, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, till further orders,” it had said.
Both Sharma and Grover were disqualified by the government under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act, 1994 for defying party directions during the election of mayor and deputy mayor held on December 7, 2023.
Elections to the Solan Municipal Corporation, established in 2020, are held on party lines.
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