Munesh Gurjar W/O Sushil Gurjar v. the State of Rajasthan
Writ – Suspension of elected Mayor – Section 39(6), Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009
Case brief
What is this about?
Suspension of municipal Mayor under S.39(6) Rajasthan Municipalities Act 2009 upheld; validity of manually signed enquiry notice — digital signature not mandatory; e-file circulars executive only; no duty to supply Enquiry Officer appointment order; natural justice/delaying tactics; writ dismissed; prima facie contempt warning to State officials for nine-month non-compliance; three-month timeline to conclude judicial enquiry; ACB bribery/patta case, Jaipur Municipal Corporation Heritage; precedents: Durga Ram Mali (2011) 4 RLW 3552 and Tararam Mali (SWP 11814/2019) relied on; Nand Lal 1995 SCC OnLine Raj 303 and Vimla Devi 2007 SCC OnLine Raj 458 held not applicable.
What did the court decide?
No relief to the petitioner; writ petition and stay application dismissed. Respondents directed to conclude the enquiry within three months of receipt of certified copy of the order, on merits, after affording due opportunity of hearing and without being influenced by the Court's observations.