STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Assam Assembly on Wednesday passed the 'Assam Municipal (Amendment) Bill-2020' to deal with the typical situation in many of the urban civic bodies whose terms had expired but polls could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown from March 24, 2020.
After this the Bill becomes an Act, the DCs and SDO (C) and other designated officials will be allowed to take over charges of these municipal organizations across the State with effect from April 1,2020. However, the officials will be allowed to take over such charges for a period not exceeding 12 months from the date of expiry of the term of the respective urban civic body.
This mentioned amendment was needed since there is no provision in the 'Assam Municipal Act-1956' that after the expiry of the term of the Commissioners of the Municipal Boards, the Deputy Commissioners/Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) or any other Government officials can take over the charge of such Municipal Boards.
The existing rules mandate that the State Election Commission (SEC) should conduct the election of the Municipal Boards on the expiry of their term of five years.
Mentionably, terms of the Municipal Boards in the 'General Areas' — except the 'Goalpara Municipal Board' and those in the Sixth Scheduled Districts — ended by March, 2020.
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