JMC, SMC mayors get MoS status
TNN Bureau. Updated: 8/22/2019 11:21:54 AM
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JAMMU: In a significant development, the Governor’s administration has accorded Minister of State status to its two Mayors of Jammu and Srinagar civic bodies-- Chander Mohan Gupta and Junaid Azim Mattu, respectively.
People's Conference leader Maattu and BJP leader Gupta are the mayors of SMC and JMC, respectively.
With this status, both Mattu and Gupta will enjoy expanded power and will be able to take executive decisions. As mayors, their roles and responsibilities were restricted to their municipal jurisdiction.
Typically, a mayor is considered a ceremonial authority with limited power and state governments with all the resources continue to take most critical decisions.
An official order, issued by additional secretary Subash Chhibber, said the hospitality and protocol department shall make necessary insertion in the J&K State Warrant of Precedence with the approval of the competent authority.
"Sanction is hereby accorded to the grant of status equivalent to Minister of State (MoS) to the Mayors of SMC (Srinagar Municipal Corporation) and JMC (Jammu Municipal Corporation) within their territorial jurisdiction," the order said.
The elections for the municipal corporations were held in four phases in October last year after a gap of 13 years.