Civic bodies special officers’ tenure extended by six months again 

The bill introduced by Local Administration Minister SP Velumani said that the Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner has stated that due to recent Lok Sabha poll, the model code of conduct came into force on March 2019 thereby making it difficult for the returning officers and district collectors to prepare for local body elections. Simultaneously with Parliamentary works, the preparation of ward wise voters’ roll has been difficult. Further, the national informatics centre demanded 95-day time to complete the task of preparing the local body electoral rolls.

At this juncture, it was not possible for announcing the date of local body elections. Under these circumstances, the term of office of special officers was due to expire on June 30, 2019 and now the government has decided to amend the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act 1994 and other municipal corporation acts so as to enable the extension of special officers for a period of 6 months up to 31 December 31, 2019. The Governor has promulgated the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Ordinance 2019, the bill read.

Deaf, mute, leprosy hit can contest local body polls

The state on Friday introduced an amendment bill which would enable the deaf and mute and those affected with leprosy to contest in the local body polls.

A copy of the bill read that in Tamil Nadu three per cent of the population are differently abled. Among the differently abled, there are many people with higher education qualifications and capability of communication skills.

However deaf and mute or leper category people are disqualified to contest elections and the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act 1919 and Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act 1920, which is not justifiable. Therefore, the government has decided to amend certain sections in the municipal acts for omission of expression deaf and mute leper, the bill read. A bill to provide establishment of a municipal corporation for Avadi was also passed.