The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Corporation Council meeting called off

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Saturday, Jan 20, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Corporation Council meeting called off

Staff Reporter

Lack of quorum as only a handful turn up on Friday

CHENNAI : The urgent meeting of the Chennai Corporation Council scheduled for Friday to ratify the resignation of the DMK Mayor M.Subramanian was called off for want of quorum. The meeting required at least 50 councillors but only a few turned up.

Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni told mediapersons that the officials were unable to serve notices about the meeting to many councillors who were out-of-station for the Pongal Holidays.

The meeting had been postponed and the Deputy Mayor would announce the new date for the meeting, he added.

After 98 councillors resigned on Thursday, the strength of the 155-ward Council dwindled to 55. Two wards remain vacant since October last.

With the Deputy Mayor conducting the council proceedings in the absence of the Mayor, the council could afford only four absentees if it is to run its normal business. The Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act mandates a minimum of 50 councillors to make up the quorum for council meetings.

Only a few turn up

Though Deputy Mayor R. Sathiyabama announced the urgent meeting on Thursday morning and the news was published in the day's evening newspapers, only a few councillors turned up at Ripon Buildings, the Chennai Corporation headquarters, on Friday morning.

K. Armstrong, the lone councillor from the list of 99 wards mentioned in the recent Madras High Court judgement to have not resigned, was present.

Even Ms. Sathiyabama did not turn up.

When contacted, Congress floor leader Saidai P. Ravi said Mr.Subramanian had called him late on Thursday night to inform that the meeting had been called off.

According to sources, a few councillors had avoided receiving the official notice.

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