The Forum for Good Goverance (FGG) filed a PIL in the Telangana High Court requesting an order for the constitution of Ward Committees in the GHMC limits and for a stay on the establishment of ward-level offices.
The court gave a notice to the government and asked it to respond in four weeks.
In a statement, the forum said that Article 243-S of the Constitution of India provided for the constitution of ward committees consisting of local residents. Following the constitutional mandate, Sec 8-A of the GHMC Act prescribed that there should be ward committees for each ward consisting of local residents from civil society organizations etc. to facilitate the people's participation in addressing local civic issues and in decision making.
"The ward committees were to oversee the works to ensure quality and control corruption. However, the Telangana government, instead of constituting ward committees, has taken up establishment of ward offices with 10 officials for each ward. This step of the State government takes participation and decision-making away from the people, leading to delays in the execution of works and encouraging corruption," the forum said.
filed in:Courts, Legal, Telangana High Court, High Court, PILs, Municipal Bodies