MUNICIPAL CORPORATION

Democratic decentralization has long been accepted as one of the cardinal principles of
our democracy. With the adoption of the Constitution embodying the principles of democracy
and welfare state, local government has assumed anincreasing importancein the political and
administrative set up of India. During the British period the system of local government in India
grew in bits and pieces. These institutions provided the training ground for citizenship and
administrative management and at the same time served in no small measure as democratic
spring volts for an onslaught on imperialism. Our Constitution in providing for a Union of States,
has made distribution and powers, authority and responsibility between the Union and the States.
However, before the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments there was no further distribution of
powers in real terms. To be more specific, local bodies did not get their authority to exist and
function directly from the Constitution. In fact, there are very few countries where democracy at
local level is protected by the Constitution. In India the local bodies now enjoy the Constitutional
status.
Constitutional and legal Framework
The Constitutional 74th Amendment 1992, introduced a new part IX A in the Constitution
which deals with the matters relating with Municipalities, Municipal Corporations such as
structure and composition of urban local bodies. Article 243 (ZF) inserted by the said
Constitutional Amendment Act gave a time limit to the State Governments for the State Acts
relating to Municipalities and Municipal Corporations to be brought in conformity with the
Constitutional Amendment. Accordingly, all the parent Acts dealing with Urban Local
Government got amended by all the State Governments. In order to bring about uniformity in the
constitution of municipalities, a structure of Urban Local Bodies was envisaged under Article 243
of the Constitution inserted by the Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. These Urban Bodies are:
(a) Nagar Panchayat for a transitional Area.
(b) Municipal Council for a smaller urban area.
(c) Municipal Corporation for a larger urban area.
The 74th Amendment Act 1992 clearly provides to determine whether any settlement is a
transitional area, small urban area or a large urban area. The following factors are to be considered
by the State Government:
(i) Population of the area.
(ii) Density of Population,
(iii) Revenue generated from local administration,

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 (iv) Percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities,
(v) Economic importance,
(vi) any other factors as the State Government may consider fit.
Since the demographic and other conditions for determining a particular type or urban
local body differ from state to state, the 74th Amendment Act has provided for sufficient elasticity
for the states in constituting different types of urban local bodies. To be more specific, the State
Governments have been given the discretion to decide which type of municipality would be
constituted for each urban area keeping in view the local conditions prevailing in the State.
Basic features of a Municipal Corporation
The first Municipal Corporation was set up in 1687 in Madaras and later on some other such
bodies were created on the pattern of MCs in Britain. Municipal Corporation is the highest form
of urban local government as it enjoys comparatively more powers and autonomy in day to day
administration. In fact, the Municipal Corporation as an institution is more respectable and
enjoys a great measure of administrative and financial autonomy as compared to other municipal
institutions such as Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. A Municipal Corporation can be
defined as a body politic, created in a prescribed locality and invested with subordinate powers of
legislation, for the purpose of assisting in the civil governance of the State and regulating and
administering its local and internal affairs. Generally, the municipal corporations are meant for
large towns where civic problems acquire a high degree of complexity. A municipal corporation is
set up under a special statute passed by the State Legislature. If it is to be set up in the union
territory such an enactment in to be passed by the Union Parliament. In some States, there is a
Common Municipal Corporation Act covering all the municipal corporations within the state,
while in some states, the corporations own their existence to a special legislation, such as the
Bombay Municipal Corporation Act 1888; The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957; and the
Calcutta Municipal Corporation Act, 1980. In U.P. Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, for example, a
single Common Municipal Corporation Act has been passed covering all the municipal
corporations in the state.
Composition
As pointed out above the structure of municipal corporation has been basically followed from the
model of British bodies and also that tried out under the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act,
1888. The chief feature of this form of management structure is the statutorily separation of
deliberative and executive functions. The Council and Standing Committees constitute the
Deliberative wing and the Municipal Commissioner and the officials refers to the Executive wing.

Corporation Council
The term council in popular parlance is an assembly of persons that meets to undertake
deliberation and to tender advice. However, as secular term, the council refers to a body of men
selected to advice the sovereign or some other form of ruler. The Municipal Corporation Acts
determine the composition, powers and functions of the corporation council and its relation with
administrative machinery. Thus, the council exercises such powers as are conferred upon it by law.

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 The council of a municipal corporation earlier had three elements: municipal councilors,
aldermen and mayor/deputy mayor. The system of Aldermen was based on British pattern which
means adding of some special persons to the council having a wide experience in public affairs or
persons with special qualifications. The system of aldermen is no more prevailent now. The
number of municipal councilors varies from 40 to 272. For instance, Madras City Municipal
Corporation Act, 1959 has a provision for 100 councillors and Bombay City Act lays down a limit at
120. Similarly, the Calcutta Municipal Act 1951 lays down a limit of 181 councillors. Somethe states
in the amended Act have enhanced the number of municipal councilors. For instance, the Delhi
Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1993 has provided that the local number of seats in no
case be more than 134 and not less than 80. However, this number went up further to 272 and the
body was later divided into three parts. In Hyderabad, MC the number of seats is now 198. In
Punjab, the Act has fixed the minimum number of members at 40 and maximum number at 75
and further authorises the State Government to determine the exact number.
Generally, a Municipal Corporation Act authorises the State Government to fix the number
of seats and reserve seats for scheduled castes, backward classes and women beIonging to
scheduled castes out of the total number of elected councillors. The provisions pertaining to
reservation of seats are generally as follows:
1. The State Government has been given the right to
(a) determine the number of seats for scheduled castes. Such reservation is subject to
the condition that the number of seats so reserved is to bear as nearly as may be the
same proportion to the total number of seats to be filed by direct election to the
corporation as the population of scheduled castes in that city bears to the total
population of that city. As such seats are to be allowed by rotation to different wards
in the city.
(b) the seats in each corporation for the members of backward elasses are reserved
under the Act. However, the same are to be allotted by rotation to different wards in
the corporation.
2. Not less than one third of the total number of seats reserved under clauses (a) above
have been reserved for women belonging to scheduled castes.
3. Not less than one third (including the number of seats reserved for women
belonging to the scheduled castes) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election have
been reserved for women.
The principal Acts governing all the Municipal Corporations provide for three types of
members, i.e., elected councillors, associate councellors/ex-officio members and nominated
councellors. According to the Acts, every member of the State Legislative Assembly representing
the constituencies in which the city or any part thereof falls is to he the ex-offico member of the
corporation. An interesting provision added in the Punjab Mi Act of 1994 is that a person who is
elected as a councillor of a corporation shall not be considered to be an ex-offico members, if he is
a member of the Legislative Assembly at the time of his election or becomes such member at any
time thereafter and such person shall have all the rights and be subject to all the liabilities of an
elected councellor.

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 The principal Acts governing the Municipal Corporations have given the responsibility of
election of the members to the State Election Commissions. The power of superintendence,
direction and control of preparation of electoral rolls for and the conduct of regular and fair
elections to the corporation has been given to the State Election Commission.
TERM: The principal Acts governing the Corporations earlier provided for different tenures. The
term of 5 years has now been fixed for all the local bodies.
Removal of Members
In regard to the removal of members there is no uniformity in various Acts. Ordinarily, a
councillor can cease to be member by (i) submitting his resignation; (ii) prolonged absence (iii)
removal; and (iv) incurring disqualifications. In Punjab for instance, the state government has
been authorized to remove the councellor if he/she becomes subject to any disqualification
physical or mentally incapacitated or intentionally abuses his position or absents himself from the
meetings of the council for three successive meetings without permission of the corporation. The
councellor shall also invite removal if he was to vote on matter in which he is interested. Further
he is also liable to removal if he encroaches upon municipal land or is instrumental in the evasion
of any municipal revenue. The abuse of position which merits removal has been interpreted by
the court. However, in the removal of the councillor, the state has arbitrary powers under the Act
as it may or may not communicate to the councillor the reasons for his removal and he may not be
given an opportunity for tendering an explanation or reasons thereof.
Mayor and Deputy Mayor
The office of the Mayor is the most dignified place that any citizen can aspire for. He is the
civic head of a Municipal Corporation. The Mayor is the first citizen of the city, representing its
dignity and personality. Almost all the city corporations have a mayor and deputy mayor who are
elected by the council for a varied term from amongst its members. Their term varies from one
year to five years depending upon the legislative provisions. (e.g, 5yrs in Chennai, 2-1/2yrs in
Mumbai, 1yr in Chandigarh)
There is a system of reservation of the offices of Mayors by rotation in the prescribed
manner for the members of the scheduled castes, backward classes and women
The institution of mayor in India is better placed in the matter of powers as compared to
his English counterpart, but as compared to his French counterpart, he is poorly placed. Powers
and functions of a Mayor in the Municipal corporation vary considerably.
The most important statutory function of the Mayor is to preside over the meetings of the
council and guide its deliberations. He has access to all records.
The study of various provisions of the Acts of the prevailing Corporations leads us to the
following powers and functions of the Mayor:
(i) Mayor is the first citizen of the city being the civic chief and represents the city on
ceremonial occasions.
(ii) He convenes and presides over the meetings of the council and guides its
deliberations.

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 (iii) He hears complaints from the public and tries to ventilate their grievances in the
council meetings.
(iv) He has access to all the records of the corporation and obtains reports from the
Commissioner and State government on any administrative matter.
(v) He can supervise and inspect work of the corporation.
(vi) He is the proper channel of communication between the Commissioner and the
state government.
(vii) He is the ex-officio member of all standing committees of the corporation.
(viii) In some cases, he is an appointing authority in consultation with the State Public
Service Commission.
(ix) He is empowered to call special meetings of the council when considered necessary
and small have to call a meeting when asked by a specified number of councellors.
(x) He is empowered to direct the cases of emergency execution or stoppage of any
work or any act.
(xi) He is to perform a large number of social duties and most of his official time is
consumed by functions of social and public nature.
(xii) He exercises financial powers in certain corporations.

The Committee System

The system of committees is a universal phenomenon of local self government. They are in
vogue in some from or other in all forms of local government. A committee in its literal sense can
be defined as a body to which some work has been referred or committed. Almost all the
municipal corporation acts make it obligatory on the part of the corporations to set up certain
committees. The committees can be formal or informal, compulsory or voluntary, statutory or non
statutory, standing or adhoc. The former may either be elected for a fixed term or may be co-
terminus with the council, the latter are created for a specific purpose with or without limit of
time. Similarly, the committees can be looked at from the stand point of the jurisdiction. There are
functional and zonal committees. The Functional Committees are charged with specific functions
whereas the zonal committees operate on community basic rather than functional basis.
Statutory committees are those which are constituted by the council in accordance with the
provisions of Act. The composition, size, term, functions and powers of these committee are
determined by the Act. On the other side, Non-Statutory Committees are constituted by the
council. itself at its discretion.
Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1993 has provided for standing
committee and the wards committees as municipal authorities. The standing committee consists
of six members elected by the councellors from among themselves and one of member each
elected by the members of each ward committee from among themselves. In Punjab, the principal
Act, the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 provided for two types of committees: statutory

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and non-statutory. Under the Act, it is obligatory for the council to set up the following
Committees:
(i) Finance and contract committee, (ii) Water supply and sewerage committee, (in)
Building and Roads committees and (iv) House and tax committee.

The committees are either only advisory bodies as in Bihar or executive agencies exercising
supervisory control over departments formulating schemes and proposals and giving advice to the
council and executing contracts made by the council. For instance, the standing committees in
Bombay, Hyderabad and Delhi occupy the centre of gravity in the rnunicipal government. It is one
of the standing atathorities of the corporation enjoying original jurisdiction under the
corporation Act. In Punjab, the Finance and Contract Committee is the most powerful as it is one
of the authorities of the corporation under the Act.
In accordance with the provisions contained in the Constitution (74 th Amendment) Act,
1992 under articles 243, 243 ZD and 243 ZE it is mandatory for all the States/union territories to
constitute Ward Committees, District Planning Committees and a committee for Metropolitan
Planning respectively Consequently under the Municipal Acts of the states, provisions for
constituting Wards Committees, District Planning Committees and Metropolitan Planning
Committee have been incorporated.
A Corporation having a population of three lakhs or more shall constitute wards
committees. The Commissioner/council has been authorized to constitute such number of wards
committees as may be determined. Each Wards Committee is to consist of not less than 5 wards.
While constituting a wards committee, the Commissioner is to ensure that geographical
contiguity is maintained.
Each Wards Committee is to consist of the following members:
(i) The councellors elected from the wards for which the wards committee is
constituted.
(ii) The Commissioner of the corporation as ex-officio member.
(iii) Any other officers nominated by the commissioner on the committee as ex-officio
members. One of the members so nominated is to be secretary of wards committee.
(iv) The number of ex-officio members appointed to wards committee is not to exceed
half the strength of the elected members of the wards commlttee
(v) ex officio members have the right to participate in the meetings of wards committee
but do not have the right to vote.
(vi) The chairperson is elected by the elected councellors from amongst themselves.

District Planning Committee (DPC): Each district is to have a District Planning Committee to
consolidate the plans prepared by the corporation in the District. It is to prepare a Draft
Development Plan of the District as a whole. The amended Acts authorize the State governments

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to determine the, manner in which the seats in the District Planning Committee are to be filled.
Similarly, the functions which may be assigned to such committee and the manner in which the
chairperson is to be chosen are to be prescribed by the Government subject to the provisions of
Article 243ZD of the Constitution. While preparing the draft development plan of the district, the
District Planning Committee is to give due importance to (i) the matters of common interest
between the panchayats and municipalities in the district including spatial planning, sharing of
water and other physical and natural resources, the integrated development of infrastructure and
environment observation: and (ii) the extent and type of available resources whether financial or
otherwise.
Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC): In every metropolitan area, a provision for
Metropolitan Planning Committee been made in the Act as per requirement under Article 243 ZE
of the Constitution of India, for preparing the draft development plan of the metropolitan area.
(Separate Modules have been prepared for DPCs and MPCs)
Functions and Powers of the Corporation Council
The powers of the corporation council may be grouped under the following heads.
Legislative Powers
The legislative power is the most significant because the corporation councils ere required
to make policy decisions through the resolutions they pass from time to time, keeping in view the
varied functions they are expected to perform. ln fact the most authoritative and non-deliegable
legislative expression is to make by-laws and ordinances. They have the force of law and may be
enforced by judicial action.
Administrative Powers
In the administrative field, the council establishes department and controls them in all
forms of local government. In India, for instance, the coroporation councils enjoy the powers of
appointment of certaim categories of officials:
(i) The council may discuss the requirement of staff and workers;
(ii) It may determine their service conditions;
(iii) Look into the administrative and managerial issues;
(iv) By considrering the reports on ongoig works and projects it regulates and controls
the administration.
Financial Powers
In financial matters, the councils have been given the following powers under the
governing Acts.
(i) Adoption of Corporation budget and having deliberations on it.
(ii) Considering the tax proposals and also fees, fines and other charges
(iii) To review the finances and financial position and to consider the new souces of
revenue

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 (iv) To look into audit objections ans suggestions
(v) To determine the salaries and wages of emplyees and other expenses
(vi) Approving purchases or sale of certain assets
(vii) To enter into contracts and fixing of rates etc.

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Investigatory Powers
In order to ensure reresponsible and responsive administrative the council may introduce various
investigatory devices in their mode of functioning. The objective of investigations is to keep
administrative arbitrariness, dishonesty, corruption and laxity in performance in check. The
corporation council is generally empowered to appoint special committees to investigate all
allegations an complaints.
Judicial Powers
Certain quasi-judicial decisions are also taken by the council. In most jurisdictions, the councils
settle electoral diisputes. The councils may discipline and expel members for violation of the rules
and regulations. The councils can take disciplinary action against those who are guilty of causing
public inconvenience n various way and against those guilty of selling adulterated foodstuffs and
those guilty of using unlicened vehicles. Similarly, they also possess the power of levying fines on
all the defaulters and offenders against municipal laws. The councils and their committees also
serve as courts of appeal in disciplinary cases against the municipal personnel.
Miscellaneous Powers
The nature and extent of such powers vary from one corporation to other. Some of the
significant provisions of the Act are described as under:
(i) Most of the acts authorise the council to determine the powers and duties of the
various committees;
(ii) Additional committees may be constituted by the council for such purposes as the it
thinks fit;
(iii) The council has the power to ask the commissioner to produce documents and
furnish returns, estimates, statistics, reports, etc;
(iv) The council also enjoys the power to call for the extracts from any proceedings of
any committee or for any return, statement and report
(v) The council may be authorised to appoint special committees, dissolve or after the
constitution of a special committee and also appoint ad hoc committees for special
subjects.
Municipal Functions (Functions of Corporation)

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 The 74th Amendment Act calls for the enhanced functions by the urban local bodies and in
this regard 12th Schedule has been added to the Constitution, but in actual practice the state
governments have been very much reluctant to delegate new functions to the urban local bodies.
However, local bodies, elsewhere in the world, have been given the responsibility of rendering a
range of social services. In India, usually, the Municipal Acts contain long Iists of municipal
functions. In most of the states, functions of the municipal corporations are statutorily
distinguished into ‘obligatory’ and ‘discretionary’. In general, with some variations the following
functions have been assigned to most of the corporations in the country.
Obligatory Functions
(i) Supply of wholesome water and construction and maintenance of water works
(ii) Road transport service;
(iii) Construction, maintenance, naming and numbering streets.
(iv) Construction, maintenance and cleaning of drains and drainage works and public
latrines, urinals etc;
(v) Lightning, watering and cleansing of public streets and other public places,
(vi) Removal and disposal of filth and rubblish;
(vii) Removal of obstructions and projections in or upon streets and other public places,
(viii) Securing removal of dangerous and places;
(ix) Establishment and maintenance of hospitals, maternity and child welfare centers;
(x) Measures for prevention or checking of dangerous diseases;
(xi) Registration of births and deaths;
(xii) Vaccination and inoculation;
(xiii) Regulation of places for disposal of the dead and provision of the places for this
purpose;
(xiv) Provision of primary education;
(xv) Maintenance of fire brigade;
(xvi) To publish annual reports and returns on administration of the corporation; and
(xvii) Control and regulation of eating places and eatables.
Discretionary Functions
(i) Construction of gardens, public parks, libraries, museums theatres, akharas and
stadia;
(ii) Public housing;
(iii) Planting and care of trees on road side and elsewhere;
(iv) Survey of buildings and lands,

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 (v) Relief to destitute and disables persons;
(vi) Destruction or detention of stray dogs, stray pigs or detention, of animals cousing
nuisance;
(vii) Civic reception to V.I.Ps.,
(viii) Registration of marriages;
(ix) Organisation and management of fairs and exhibitions; and
(x) Playing of music for people.

As pointed out above, with a view to ensure independence and to strengthen the local bodies
besides making them institutions looking after the growth, development and management of
urban areas, the Seventy Fourth Constitution Amendment Act, 1992 envisages to devolve to the
municipal authorities including the municipal corporations functions, powers and
responsibilities relating to preparation of plans for economic development, social justice as well as
for the implementation of the various development schemes and to carry out responsibilities
conferred upon them in relation to matters related in the twelfth schedule. The appended new
schedule to the Constitution of India lists out in all the following 18 functions:
(i) Urban Planning including town planning; (ii) Regulations of land use and construction of
buildings; (iii) Planning for economic and social development ; (iv) Roads and bridges; (v) Water
supply for domestic, industrial and commercial purpose; (vi) Public health, sanitation
conservancy and solid waste management; (vii) Fire services; (viii) Urban forestry protection of
the environment and protection of ecological aspects; (ix) Safeguarding the interests of weaker
sections of society, including the handicapped and mentally retarded; (x) Slum improvement and
upgradation; (xi) Urban poverty alleviation; (xii) Provision of urban amenities and facilities such
as parks, gardens, playgrounds; (xiii) Promotions of cultural, educational and aesthetic aspects;
(xiv) Burials and Burial grounds, cremations, cremation grounds and electric crematoriums; (xv)
Cattle ponds, prevention of cruelty to animals; (xvi) Vital statistics including registration of births
and deaths, (xvii) Public amenities including street-lighting, parking lots, bus stop and public
conveniences; (xviii) Regulation of slaughter houses and tanneries.
The Munucipal Commissioner
As per most of the Municipal Corporation Acts the Municipal Commissioner is the head of the
executive wing. In fact, most of the Acts envisage a complete dichotomy of roles and functions
between the executive and deliberative wings of the municipal corporation. The office of the
executive head is a pivot around which the entire municipal activity revolves. This office is of
paramount importance for guiding, controlling and coordinating the activities of the staff. The
municipal commissioner is at the apex of the municipal administrative hierarchy. The analysis of
the various provisions of Municipal Corporation Acts and the practice being followed by the
various states brings out the following features of this office:
(i) The institution of municipal commissioner is based on the philosophy of complete
dichotomy between the legislative and executive functions.

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 (ii) The commissioner is commonly appointed by the state government for a fixed term
ranging from 3 to 5 years and he is the sole head of the executive wing.
(iii) The is a professional, high ranking senior administrator generally belonging to
I.A.S. cadre.
(iv) Most of the statutes controlling the corporations do not debar non governmental
personnel to he appointed as commissioners. However the practice is to appoint
serving civil servants.
(v) He is a generalist administrator and is not considered to be specialist in city
administration unlike its counterpart, the city manager in the U.S.A.

As mentioned earlier the commissioner of a municipal corporation is appointed by the state

government (by the Government of India in case of Delhi) on a tenure basis.

Various Municipal Corporation Acts empower the state government to remove the commissioner
from the office before the expiry of his normal term on grounds of inefficiency, incompetence,
persistent negligence of duty or gross misconduct. The state government can withdraw the office
if required by a resolution adopted by the council by a simple majority in Patna, clear majority in
Calcutta, 3/5th in Delhi, 5/8th in Gujrarat, 2/3rd in Punjab, Bangalore, Kerala & Hyderabad and ¾ in
Madras and Madhya Pradesh.
Powers and Functions of Municipal Commissioner
His functions and powers may be classified as Quasi legislative, Administrative and Financial.
However, the nature and extent of these powers and duties may vary from one corporation to
other.
1. Quasi-Legislative Power
(i) To attend the meetings of the council and committees. In the meetings he is
required to furnish information required for deliberations. He participates in the
deliberations but has no right to vote.
(ii) To participate in discussions and to defend his actions.
(iii) To furnish to the council, any report, statement, information and the like, as may be
demanded by the council.
(iv) As the chief executive officer, he provides administrative Ieadership in the
deliberations and decisions of the council. The proposals for bye-laws and other
important decisions are to be initiated by him.
2. Administrative Powers
(i) He carries out the policies and resolutions, enunciated or adopted by the elected
corporation and its various committees.

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 (ii) He is also responsible for the proper enforcement of bye-laws and decisions of the
council.
(iii) He, subject to the provision of the Act and Rules, prescribes the duties and exercises
supervision and control over the acts of all the officers and employees of the
corporation.
(iv) He keeps a vigilant eye on the day to day administration.
(v) He disposes of all questions relating to the service of the said employees and
officers, their pay, privileges, allowances and other conditions of service.
(vi) The commissioner acts through delegation of authority to the numerous officers
subordinate to him.
(vii) He has to defend himself and his subordinates for the acts of omission and
commission from the attacks of the public and the councellors.
(viii) He is the custodian of all the records of the corporation and is required to supply to
the corporation or mayor an information of his custody.
(ix) In all the Acts governing the corporation, the commissioner has the power of
making appointments to some subordinate posts.
(x) He has the power to issue certain notices, granting licenses permits and like.
(xi) He has been authorized to impose penalties for breach of statutory provisions.
(xii) He implements standing order in respect of certain municipal matters.
(xiii) In an emergency, the municipal commissioner can order may step without the
council which he considers necessary to cope with any emergent or unforeseen
contingency within the jurisdiction of the corporation.
(xiv) He is expected to conduct outdoor inspections of works and projects of the
corporation.
(xv) He is required to spend most of his time even outside the office in planning,
designing and reporting for the purpose of improving the welfare of the local
residents.
3. Financial Powers
(i) He is responsible to prepare the budget estimates of income and expenditure.
(ii) He is responsible for the collection of taxes, fees and other chages imposed by the
corporation.
(iii) He has been empowered to sanction an estimate, the amount of which varies from
corporation to corporation.
(iv) He enters all contracts on behalf of the corporation.

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 (v) Some municipal corporation acts empower him to call for information and return
from any person to enable him to determine the rateable value of any land or
building and asses the tax payable.
(vi) He can employ valuers to assist him in the valuation of land or buildings.
(vii) He is competent to seize vehicles and animals in case of non-payment of tax due
thereon.
(viii) He is responsible for the preparation of assessment lists for the purpose of
property/house tax.
(ix) Proposals for the fresh taxes/fees are, in practice, initiated by the municipal
commissioner.
The financial Resouces of Municipal Corporation
Looking into the vast duties of an MC and a long list of areas of expenses, one logical question
arises is in regards to the quantum of resources for the Corporations. We may categorise the
financial resources of the Municipal Corporations into the following broader categories:
A. Taxes and Fees
B. Non-tax resouces
C. Grants and Contributions
D. Donations, Loans and Miscellaneous resources.

(A Separate module has been dedicated to the municipal finances)

Summary
Municipal Corporation is the most important form of urban local body in India. Infact this
is the highest form of urban local body which is there in large cities. A large number of significant
functions have been assigned to the Municipal Corporatins and it is composed of a good number
of councilors and having a large administration set up headed by the Municipal Commissioner.
The deliberative wing is headed by a Mayor. The success of a Municipal Corporation depends
upon the capability of both these leaders, administrative and political, as well as on their cordial
relations. In the context of increasing urbanization and increasing urban complexities, the tasks
before the Corporations are not easy. With the growing size and populations in the large cities the
MCs are facing a number of problems and challenges, say it the housing, providing of basic
services, handling of slums or traffic, or the tackling of the problem relating to municipal solid
waste and so on, these urban local bodies have not succeeded much. There are common
complaints against the poor working of the MCs and people in many cities have lost faith in them.
However, at the same time there is a good number of cases where the MCs have played a
significant role to uplift the city scenario by their planning and consistant efforts. The cases of the
cities of Surat, Ahmedabad and Indore are some of such good examples. Others too may progress

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well provided there are sincere efforts on the part of leaders and officials of the Municipal
Corporation and if the parameters of good governace are truely followed.
Questions
1. What is normally the structure of the MC Council?
2. Enlist the broad functions of Municipal Corporations in your state.
3. Who constitute the executive wing of a MC?
4. Name any three standing commiettees of MC.
5. Who are Aldermen?

Glossary
 Obligatory Functions - Compulsory
 Discretionary Functions - Optional / Flexible
 Density of population - Total population per sq. km/ Sq. mile
 Nuisance Industries - Those creating hindrances / obstructions
 Deliberative Wing - Comprises of non-officials-the councillors
References
1. Maheshwari, S.R, Local Government in India, Lakshami Narain Aggarwal, Agra, 2003.
2. National Institute of UrbanAffairs, A Compendium of Municipal Legislations in
Conformity with Constitutional Amendments, New Delhi, 1998.
3. Sahib Singh and Swinder Singh, Local Government in India, New Academic, Jalandhar,
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4. Jayal, Nirja Gopal and others, Local Governace in India, Oxford University Press, Delhi,
2007.

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