Patna: The Bihar cabinet has approved amendments to the Bihar Municipality Act, 2007, introducing a shift from nomination to election for the selection of empowered standing committee members in municipal bodies.
Under the new provision, councillors will elect committee members through a secret ballot supervised by the district officer. The amendment, passed on Wednesday, requires elections for standing committees to be completed within six months of enforcement.
The state government has also exempted MPs and MLAs representing municipal constituencies from attending municipal meetings during parliamentary or assembly sessions. Ministers and legislators will no longer be allowed to nominate a representative — except close relatives — to attend meetings on their behalf. Any nominated person, however, will not be permitted to vote.
Further changes approved include a provision for filling casual vacancies in standing committees through the same electoral process, with the elected councillor serving the remainder of the predecessor’s term.
Urban development and housing minister Jibesh Kumar said the decision fulfilled a long-standing demand of councillors. “The democratic selection process will bring transparency in the work of the municipality and accelerate the implementation of schemes,” he said.
