Ludhiana: Congress councillors in the Ludhiana MC have decided to submit objections and affidavits in the Punjab and Haryana high court against the appointment of two MLAs’ sons to the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) ahead of the next hearing on July 27.The move follows a petition filed in the HC by Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti challenging the additions. Bhatti alleged that the appointments were pushed through as a table agenda during the budget meeting without proper discussion, member consensus, or house approval. He noted that F&CC members are supposed to be elected by the General House rather than directly appointed by the mayor.Congress leader in the MC House, Sham Sunder Malhotra, said, “This appointment is totally unfair and against rules so we are giving letters on our letterheads in the court and if demanded we will also give an affidavit against this decision.”Mayor Inderjit Kaur rejected the allegations, maintaining that all procedures were followed and approved by the local bodies department and the party. “There is no mention in the MC Act that we will have to include one opposition party leader in the committee,” Kaur stated, adding that the administration consulted its legal team before finalising the decision and will not backtrack.During an earlier hearing, counsel for the MC sought time to file a formal response, after which the court adjourned the matter to July 27.
