Jalna civic chief bars corporators’ relatives from interfering in municipal work

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Three days after a similar directive was issued in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna municipal commissioner Anjali Sharma on Thursday warned civic officials against entertaining instructions from relatives of elected corporators, stressing that only elected representatives are authorised to participate in municipal decision-making.In a circular, Sharma said the civic body had noticed that relatives of some corporators — including spouses, parents, children and siblings — were frequently visiting the municipal headquarters, ward offices and project sites and attempting to influence official functioning. The commissioner noted that some relatives were allegedly projecting themselves as corporators, identifying themselves as elected representatives on social media, contacting govt officials while claiming official status and asserting authority at municipal offices and private establishments.Describing such acts as serious, Sharma said they tarnish the image of the municipal corporation and could invite action.Officials and employees have been directed to accord due respect to elected corporators but not permit their relatives to interfere in day-to-day administration. The circular also instructs staff not to act on directions issued by relatives or yield to pressure to undertake work that is not permissible under municipal rules.

“Only duly elected corporators have the legal authority to participate in the functioning of the municipal corporation and express their views in the administrative decision-making process,” Sharma said in the circular.She clarified that if relatives of corporators visit municipal offices as ordinary citizens, their work should be handled strictly in accordance with prescribed rules and procedures.