Municipal Corporation

Introduction

What is a Municipal Corporation? 

Municipal Corporation is one of the local self-governing bodies for urban areas where the population is more than one million. These areas are mostly metropolitan cities. Some salient features of the corporation are as follows:

• The Municipal Corporation consists of various divisions and departments. These departments are for various essential community services such as water supply and sewage disposal, Education Board, Housing Department, Public Safety and Healthcare, etc.
• The Mayor is the chairperson of the Municipal Corporation. Although, in most of the states, the executive and administrative powers are given to the Municipal Commissioner. This makes the Mayor only a ceremonial head.
• The Municipal Corporation is a self-sustaining body that gets funding mostly from property taxes and aid from the state government.

Historical Background

The British administration first established the Municipal Corporation in Madras in 1688.

Later it was created in Bombay and Calcutta in 1726. Municipal Corporation is known by different names in different states such as Nagar Nigam in some Northern states of India, Mahanagar Palika in Goa and Maharashtra, Mahanagar Seva Sadan in Gujarat, Pouro Nigam in Assam and West Bengal, Pur Parishad in Tripura, Nagara Sabha in Kerala and Managaraatchi in Tamil Nadu.

• The establishment of Municipal Corporation is carried out by the State Legislature in the State, and by Act of Parliament in Union Territories.
• The Municipal Corporation mostly relies on property taxes and State-funded grants to function properly.
• Its function mainly includes providing essential community services and city planning.

Constitutional Provision

After India’s independence in 1947, the Constitution was created and Article 40 of the Directive Principle of State Policy was used to discuss the local governing bodies. This article talks about establishing village Panchayat as a unit of a self-governing body. In 1992 the Government passed the 74th Amendment Act, 1992 which mandated the creation of Urban Local Body (ULB) or Urban Government as the lowest level of Government. It was formed for the devolution of powers of the Government into several levels.

• The 74th Amendment Act inserted a new Part IX-A in the constitution which deals with the definition, function, and divisions of Municipality 
• Municipal Corporation is mentioned from articles 243P to 243ZG.

Composition And Authority

According to the Constitution, the State Legislature decides the composition of the Municipal Corporation. It consists of a Ward’s Committee. The city is divided into various sections depending on the geography and its population. Each ward member is elected by the people of the particular Ward. They are elected for a five-year term following certain arrangements

• Provisions are given for the reservation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Disadvantaged classes, and women by the State Legislature.
• The Chairperson of the Municipal Corporation or the Mayor is elected by State law. Although the Mayor is the chairperson of the Municipal Corporation, executive powers are given to the Municipal Commissioner.
• The State Legislature may also decide to make provisions for the ‘representation of the person with special knowledge or experience in Municipal Administration’.

The Authorities of a Municipal Corporation

A municipal corporation consists of three different authorities:

1. Municipal Council: It consists of members who are directly elected by the people. It is the legislative wing of the corporation. The Mayor is in charge of this council.
2. Standing Committee: It helps in the proper functioning of the municipal council. Different Standing Committees take decisions concerning their field, like education, tax, health, etc.
3. Municipal Commissioner: Municipal Commissioner is the chief executive of the Municipal Corporation. They are responsible for implementing the decisions taken by the standing committee and the Municipal council. The Municipal Commissioner is appointed by the State Legislature. The post is mostly given to IAS officers.

Qualification For Membership of Municipal Corporation

The election for Municipal Corporation can be contested by any citizen of India who has the following qualifications:

• Is above the age of 21
• Has their name registered on the electoral roll 
• Has not been disqualified earlier for contesting in Municipal Corporation Election

Election

The election of Municipal Corporation is controlled, directed, and supervised by the State

Election Commission under the article 243K. The term of office is 5 years, which begins from the date of its first meeting. The Corporation can be dissolved for the following reasons:

• If the State finds the corporation incompetent in performing its responsibility
• If the Corporation is abusing its power
• If the municipal elections are declared void

Conclusion

The Municipal Corporation fulfils the necessity of a local government for large urban areas with dense populations. The Corporation is important because it is responsible for the implementation of government schemes as well as developmental schemes. It is also significant for providing essential community services such as healthcare, public safety, sewage disposal, and education.