The Union Home Ministry today directed the NDMC to reconstitute the Council by replacing four of its members.
In a notification received by the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) late evening, the Home Ministry has asked the civic body to replace Tajdar Babar, Ashok Ahuja, Suka Ram and I A Siddique, NDMC officials said.
The four will be replaced by Karan Singh Tanwar, B S Bhatt, Anita Arya and Abdul Rashid Ansari.
Tanwar, who will join as the NDMC Vice Chairman, was an elected BJP council member earlier for several years till he was defeated by current Delhi Cantonment MLA Surinder Singh in the 2013 Delhi Assembly Elections. He will now be a member alongside Singh.
Anita Arya is a former BJP MP from Karol Bagh and former Delhi Mayor B S Bhatt is a social activist, NDMC officials said.
According to the NDMC Act, the Council comprises 13 members, out of which four are nominated and three are elected. The four are nominated by the Central government in consultation with the Delhi Chief Minister.
The rest are officers with Central and Delhi government.
The elected members include BJP MP from New Delhi Meenakshi Lekhi, sitting MLA from New Delhi and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Surinder Singh.
As per the 2011 amendment, the MP and MLA of the New Delhi Lok Sabha and Assembly constituency, and MLA of Delhi Cantonment constituency automatically become members of the council.
The decision of replacement has been taken before the expiry of the term of the replaced members. Their tenure is due to expire in 2016.
"When UPA government came to the Centre, we did not replace then BJP council members till the expiry of their terms. They should have not taken this step," said Tajdar Babar, NDMC Vice Chairperson, who was replaced by Tanwar.
"This is unlawful. Like they replaced the Governors in various states with their own people, they are doing the same in NDMC," Ashok Ahuja said.
"In apprehension, we had earlier filed a petition with the Delhi High Court in this connection and the court has directed us to go to it in case the Centre takes such a step.
"Now as soon as they give us the notification, terminating our membership, we will go to the court," he said.
The four new members will be sworn-in by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung tomorrow, officials said.
Jalaj Shrivastava remains the chairperson of NDMC.
