Biswabrata Goswami
KRISHNAGAR, 13 SEP: In a significant intervention that underscores the erosion of civic accountability in one of Bengal’s oldest municipalities, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Director of Local Bodies (DLB) to initiate proceedings against the alleged illegal and unlawful misappropriation of budgetary allocations by the Krishnagar Municipality.
The order, passed in response to a petition filed by rebel councillors, has reserved the right of the petitioners to pursue appropriate legal proceedings at a later stage, noting that no criminal action has yet been initiated.
The crisis was triggered by charges against chairperson Rita Das, who was accused of passing budgets without informing fellow councillors. At a press conference, rebel councillor Dr. Abul Hossain Biswas hailed the court’s intervention as a vindication of their stand. “Many people are confused regarding the court order. But the court has clearly mentioned that misappropriation of public funds and siphoning of budgetary allocations strike at the very root of municipal accountability and governance and therefore it cannot be lightly brushed aside,” he said. He added that the dual directives of an investigation by the DLB and the liberty granted to the petitioners to file cases amounted to a “victory in battle.”
The ruling has come at a time when the century-old civic body has been paralysed by factional feuds, leaving residents to suffer stalled services and half-completed projects. The Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department had only recently issued showcause notices to 24 councillors over the breakdown of civic services. Though replies were furnished within the stipulated period, the impasse has remained unresolved.
Factionalism within the ruling party’s ranks has gripped Krishnagar for months. In June, a no-confidence motion moved by 15 councillors — 13 from the Trinamul Congress (TMC), one from the Congress and one Independent — resulted in the ouster of chairperson Rita Das. Since then, the municipality has slipped into disarray, with garbage clearance, water supply and multiple development projects severely affected, drawing mounting anger from citizens.
The 25-member board presently comprises 20 TMC councillors, two from the Congress, one from the BJP and one Independent, while one seat lies vacant following the death of a councillor. Despite this numerical majority, persistent intra-party rivalries have ensured a near-total collapse of governance.
Observers note that while such disputes are often ironed out through party intervention during the annual 21 July convention, the Krishnagar stalemate has proved unusually intractable, necessitating judicial and administrative involvement. Even official meetings with state-level authorities have failed to break the deadlock, highlighting the depth of the crisis.
With the ruling party keen to retain its influence over urban voters in this politically sensitive belt, the High Court’s directive has added a fresh layer of scrutiny to an already volatile situation. The outcome of forthcoming deliberations — both within the TMC and at the administrative level — is likely to be closely watched across the political spectrum.
