Calcutta HC says Mala Roy can convene KMC sessions; schedules next hearing on June 17

The Calcutta High Court has ruled that Kolkata Municipal Corporation Chairperson Mala Roy is authorised to convene municipal sessions in accordance with the provisions of municipal law. The order was passed on Wednesday by a Division Bench comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya and Justice Biswarup Chowdhury while hearing a petition related to a dispute over the convening of the corporation’s monthly session.

The court directed that a copy of the resolutions claimed to have been adopted during the monthly session held on May 22 be submitted before the High Court through an affidavit by June 9. The bench also fixed June 17 as the next date of hearing. The court further stated that the municipal corporation would be permitted to file a counter-affidavit after the petitioner submits the relevant documents.

Mala Roy had approached the High Court seeking clarification regarding her authority to convene monthly sessions and to conduct related business. Through her petition, she sought recognition of the validity of the May 22 session and implementation of the resolutions adopted there. She also requested directions allowing future sessions to be convened in accordance with municipal law without interference.

Counsel appearing for Mala Roy argued that a monthly session had been scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 22 but that the designated meeting hall remained locked. According to the submissions, the chairperson subsequently conducted the meeting from her chamber, where several resolutions were adopted. It was further argued that under the municipal law of 1984, the authority to convene meetings rests with the chairperson and not with the municipal secretary, making the secretary’s decision to suspend the meeting legally invalid.

Representatives of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation disputed those claims and argued before the court that no valid monthly session took place on May 22. According to the corporation’s submissions, the resolutions being cited were prepared by Mala Roy herself. The dispute emerged after allegations that the monthly session had been cancelled and the assembly hall remained locked, leading councillors to assemble in the chairperson’s chamber and later conduct proceedings elsewhere within the corporation premises.