In a jolt to the state government and Solan District Congress Party, the Supreme Court reinstated Solan Mayor Usha Sharma in her post for her remaining term, on Monday.
In its order, a Supreme Court bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice K. Noteshwar Singh termed her removal from the post of mayor, after her disqualification from the post, as a case of “political goondaism.”.
“The interim order of August 20, 2024, is made absolute. Any interference with the order will invite consequences,” the bench said, as it adjourned the matter after a year.
A rebel Congress councilor, Usha Sharma, had won the election of mayor in December 2023 with the support of BJP councilors, defeating official Congress candidate Sardar Singh, while Poonam Grower was elected deputy mayor of the Solan Municipal Corporation.
Peeved at her rebellion against the Congress party, certain Congress leaders had complained to the Urban Development department, seeking her disqualification for defying the party directions under the anti-defection law for contesting against the official Congress candidate, leading to his defeat.
Acting on the complaint of Congress leaders, Principal Secretary Urban Development Devesh Kumar had disqualified the mayor, Usha Sharma, and former mayor, Punam Grover, from their membership in the Solan Municipal Corporation on June 10, after which the mayor and deputy mayor were removed from their posts.
Himachal Pradesh High Court had also upheld the decision of the HP government to disqualify them, after which they had approached the Apex Court.
( With inputs from PTI)
.
