New Delhi [India], November 4 : A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions to the Delhi Government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) over their alleged failure to allocate sufficient funds to elected councillors.
This shortfall is hindering the councillors from fulfilling their constitutional and statutory responsibilities for the welfare of citizens, stated the plea.
The petition has been filed by Sonali, an elected councillor from Sidhartha Nagar, Delhi, who highlighted that insufficient funding for MCD councillors has hindered their ability to perform their statutory duties.
This lack of resources has led to a decline in essential public services, including the maintenance of parks, schools, dispensaries, roads, and community centers, adversely affecting the citizens of Delhi.
The plea, filed through Advocates Shalabh Gupta and Prachi Gupta, highlights specific failures resulting from inadequate funding, particularly in MCD-run schools suffering from poor infrastructure and sanitation, thus violating children's right to education under Article 21A.
It stated that public parks are neglected due to water shortages, impacting greenery and safety, especially for the elderly. Essential facilities like dispensaries, outdoor gyms, and community centers are in disrepair, depriving citizens of basic health and social services.
This failure to maintain public facilities and ensure adequate funding is argued to violate the right to life under Article 21 and the right to education under Article 21A of the Constitution.
The deteriorating conditions threaten citizens' fundamental rights, especially considering that while MLAs receive approximately Rs15 crores annually, MCD councillors are allocated only about Rs1 crore, plea stated.