City fathers fail to disclose assets, liabilities

GULBARGA: Civic representatives in Gulbarga, Bidar and Yadgir ditsricts under Hyderabad-Karnatak region face the threat of disqualification as they have failed to submit their assets and liabilities.
The Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976 19(1) Act mandates that members of the city corporation or municipality should declare their assets and liabilities before the mayor.However, councillors are ignorant of the Act.
In the Gulbarga Muncipal Corporation (GMC), so far only four corporators, including deputy mayor Syed Sajjad Ali, have filed their assets and liabilities. An RTI filed by former minister S K Kantha has revealed that of the total 55 corporators, only four have declared their assets and liabilities.
When asked about this, several GMC corporators admited that they did not know about the Act. Even opposition leader in the GMC Bheem Reddy said he was unaware of the Act. JD (S) corporator Lal Ahmed said that he will hold a meeting with his party members on Monday and will ask them to abide by the Act.
GMC superintendent Jayarao Kulkarni said the city fathers cannot cite ignorance of the law being representatives of the public. Sources also said the ignorance is not limited to Hyderabad-Karnataka region but also across the state including BBMP.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com