The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday restrained the Haryana government from bifurcating the Panchkula municipal corporation (MC) into separate civic bodies for Panchkula, and Pinjore and Kalka.
The order was passed on a petition by Satinder Singh Tony, a councillor, who represents MC’s ward number 4 that comprises Pinjore. Tony had challenged a report by Ambala divisional commissioner that favoured bifurcation of the Panchkula MC.
“The Haryana government could not submit a reply on the petition filed on January 10. The court has now directed the government to not pass any order on the recommendation of the report recommending bifurcation while the matter is sub-judice,” Tony’s counsel Karanvir Singh Khehar said, adding the government, too, had suggested that it will not take a decision in the matter.
A detailed order from the court of justice Daya Chaudhary is awaited, while the next hearing is scheduled on February 27.
A panel headed by the Ambala divisional commissioner, constituted by the government following a demand by BJP legislators from Kalka and Panchkula , had recommended separation of Kalka and Pinjore from the corporation.
The corporation was formed in 2010, during the regime of previous Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government, after including Panchkula, Pinjore and Kalka’s municipal bodies, amid widespread discontent among residents of Pinjore and Kalka, who cited geographical disconnect between these towns.
In high court, Tony had argued that population was an important criteria to form or abolish a corporation, and as per rules, the last published figure of population in Indian Census report was to be considered.
{{/usCountry}}In high court, Tony had argued that population was an important criteria to form or abolish a corporation, and as per rules, the last published figure of population in Indian Census report was to be considered.
{{/usCountry}}However, the divisional commissioner-headed panel considered the decennial growth rate up till 2017 to bifurcate the corporation.
Areas after bifurcation
A corporation inclusive of Panchkula city and 21 villages in its catchment, and a common council for Kalka and Pinjore towns.