NMMC general body seeks legal opinion on deputy municipal commissioner’s ouster

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has sought a legal opinion from its law section on the ouster of deputy municipal commissioner, Rahul Gethe. While the state had issued a govt resolution for absorbing Gethe as a feeder cadre official, he has not cleared the state public service commission examination for the Chief Officer - Group A post. Earlier, he was sent back to the state govt by the NMMC.The general body took up the last on agenda item for a debate and decision. Gethe, a doctor, was accommodated in the NMMC through a govt resolution issued on Nov 1, 2021. The political dispute turned ugly as the fight between the Shiv Sena and the ruling BJP escalated over various issues.The DMC was transferred during the Covid-19 pandemic when Abhijit Bangar was the commissioner. Later, Gethe returned to the NMMC with a marching order under the state govt resolution when Eknath Shinde was CM. Now, the BJP does not want to relent, as there is no need for the party to seek Sena's support to hold on the power button.The Sena leaders during the debate tried to tease the BJP leaders through showing the clout Eknath Shinde enjoys. As the tension brewed amid the general body debate on April 24, it was decided to seek the legal opinion. The NMMC general body will decide on the issue after receipt of the legal opinion.Possibly the matter will come up in the next general body meeting. Elected representatives remain tight-lipped to debate the issue publicly.