Kolkata, 03 June (H.S.) : In a significant ruling, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday held that Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Chairperson Mala Roy has the authority to convene monthly meetings of the civic body in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Act.

The order, delivered by a bench of Justice Hirannmay Bhattacharyya, is being viewed as an important development amid speculation over the functioning of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation following the change of government in West Bengal.

During the hearing, the court observed that the KMC Chairperson is empowered under the law to call monthly meetings of the corporation. The bench also directed that copies of the resolutions passed at the meeting held on May 22 be submitted before the court in the form of an affidavit by June 9. The matter is scheduled to be heard next on June 17.

The case reached the High Court after allegations surfaced that despite the Chairperson convening a meeting, the corporation’s regular monthly session could not be held. A petition was subsequently filed seeking judicial intervention.

The ruling comes against the backdrop of speculation that the Kolkata Municipal Corporation could be dissolved after the political transition in the state. Legal observers believe the court’s decision provides clarity and ensures continuity in the civic body's routine administrative functioning.

Following the change in government, meetings of the Mayor-in-Council had reportedly been cancelled, while instructions were issued to postpone regular monthly sessions of the corporation. During the same period, the state government also replaced the Municipal Corporation Secretary.

An unusual situation had unfolded at the KMC headquarters on May 22 when the meeting convened by Chairperson Mala Roy could not proceed after the designated meeting hall was found locked. Councillors of the Trinamool Congress who had arrived to attend the session were unable to enter the hall. Roy subsequently held discussions with councillors outside the meeting venue.

Reacting to the incident, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim had described it as a “black day” in the history of the civic body and appealed to the state government to avoid confrontational politics and work in the interests of the city’s residents.

With the High Court’s latest order, much of the uncertainty surrounding the conduct of regular KMC meetings appears to have been resolved, paving the way for the corporation’s administrative processes to continue under the existing legal framework.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh