Embattled Bidhan Nagar mayor moves HC, seeks quashing of notice for meeting to remove him

Mayor of Bidhan Nagar Sabyasachi Dutta, against whom several councillors have reportedly expressed lack of confidence, Friday moved the Calcutta High Court seeking quashing of a notice to him by the civic body's commissioner for a meeting to remove him. Lawyers of Dutta, also the TMC MLA of the New Town constituency, mentioned the matter before the court of Justice Samapti Chattopadhyay and the mayor's petition is likely to be heard on Monday.

Dutta challenged the notice for a meeting of the board served to him on July 9, claiming that it was illegally done and as such should be quashed by the high court. Several of the 41 councillors in the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation reportedly signed a resolution expressing no-confidence in the mayor, following which the notice was served to Dutta.

The mayor has also sought an injunction on the notice. Dutta, who has been keeping distance from the TMC since the recent Lok Sabha elections, has been accused of anti-party activities.

In the eye of a political storm over his meetings with BJP leader Mukul Roy, the Bidhan Nagar mayor has been at loggerheads with his party leadership for some time. In his petition, Dutta claimed that the attempt to remove him from the post of mayor is a sinister coup to transfer power for satisfaction of personal egos.

Dutta submitted that the notice said a special meeting of the board of councillors has been called on July 18 to consider a resolution for removal of the mayor. He claimed that the notice is illegal since the laid down procedure under the West Bengal Municipal Corporation Act, 2006, has not been followed.

The petitioner stated that it is mysterious as to how a notice for a meeting could be signed by the commissioner who is on leave.