Municipal Corporation

Introduction
In India, the Municipal Corporation is the urban local government that is responsible for the
development of any Metropolitan City having a population of more than one million people. The 74th
Amendment Act established the types of urban local government formations and operations.

Constitutional Provisions. The 74th Amendment Act, 1992 has inserted a new
Part IX A into the Constitution which deals with the administration of Municipalities and
Nagar Palikas.

 It consists of Article 243P to 243ZG. It also added a new twelfth schedule to

the Constitution. The 12th schedule consists of 18 items.
 Clause 234K provides that in every State, institutions of self-government, called
by a general name “municipalities” will be constituted.
 There are three Types of Municipalities:
o Nagar Panchayat, for a transitional area, i.e., an area which is being
transformed from a rural to an urban area.
o Municipal Council for a smaller urban area.
o Municipal Corporation for a larger urban area.
 Article 243Q makes it obligatory for every state to constitute such units.
 The terms “a transitional area”, “a smaller urban area” or “a larger urban area”
means such area as the Governor may determine.
o This can be determined with regards to the population of the area, the
density of the population, the revenue generated for local administration,
the percentage of employment in non-agricultural activities, the economic
importance or such other factors.
Composition
A municipal area is an area that is managed by a municipal body. Each municipal
region is divided into geographical constituencies known as wards based on the
population of that particular city.

 Each ward elects a representative, who is chosen by the residents of that

ward. Members of the wards committee are elected for a five-year term on the
basis of adult franchise. A councillor or corporator is a chosen representative of
a certain ward.
 The population of a city determines the number of wards in a municipal area.
Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, disadvantaged classes, and women have
seats reserved.
 The legislature of a state may also make provisions for the representation
of persons with special knowledge or experience in municipal
administration, MPs or MLAs representing constituencies that entirely or
partially encompass the municipal area, and/or commissioners of any additional
committees that the state may have established.
  If a state legislature selects a person from the first type to a wards committee,
that person will not be able to vote in municipal corporation meetings,
although MPs, MLAs, and commissioners will be able to vote.

A person can contest elections for Municipal Corporation if he/she:

Must be a citizen of India.

Qualifications Must have attained the age of 21 years.
His/her name is registered in the Electoral Roll of a ward.
Was not earlier disqualified for contesting Municipal Corporation elections.
Must not be an employee of any Municipal Corporation in India.
 The State Election Commission appointed under Article 243K shall have
the power of superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of
Election
electoral rolls and the conduct of all elections to the municipal
corporation.
 They are appointed for a period of five years from the beginning of its
Tenure
first meeting.
It can be dissolved for a number of reasons,

Disqualificatio  If the State finds the Corporation is not doing its responsibilities.
n  If the state decides the corporation has exceeded or abused its power,
 If the state's municipal elections are declared void, the entire ward will be
removed from municipal operations.

Power, Authority & Function of Municipal Corporation

It has specifically been mentioned that they may be given the responsibility of:

 Preparation of plans for economic development and social justice

 Implementation of schemes as may be entrusted to them
 In regard to matters listed in the 12th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
The Municipal Corporations' Councillors have the following responsibilities:

 To strive for the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole.

 To attend council meetings, council committee meetings, and meetings of other
bodies affiliated to the council.
 Participate in the development and evaluation of the municipality's programs and
policies
 To maintain the confidentiality of things discussed in private at council meetings.
 To obtain all information regarding the municipality's operations and
administration from the chief administrative officer.
 To carry out any additional duties that are equivalent or essential.