Stressing the need for “accountability and independence” in the functioning of urban local bodies, the Uttar Pradesh government has directed the officials concerned to take steps to check the practice of proxy representation in urban local bodies amid reports of relatives of many elected representatives attending meetings of municipal corporations, municipal councils, and nagar panchayats.

The Directorate of Urban Local Bodies recently wrote to divisional commissioners, district magistrates, municipal commissioners and executive engineers of nagar palikas and nagar panchayats after receiving a letter from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

In its communique, the NHRC had directed the state government to take “effective” measures to curb the practice and reinforce compliance wit

See Full Page