DMC trust vote on May 22

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 14

The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) is scheduled for a trust vote on May 22. DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi is facing a trial of strength following a no-confidence motion filed by 12 councillors.

The dissenting councillors include 6 of his NPF colleagues led by Deputy Chairperson Imlinaro Ezung, and 6 BJP councillors led by Kuhoi Zhimo.  The dissenting camp was camping at a resort in Guwahati, while the incumbent Chairperson’s were camped at a hotel in Chümoukedima. 

The no-confidence motion was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, on May 11. 

In response to the motion, Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur, Dr Tinojongshi Chang issued a notice convening a “Special Meeting” on May 22 to determine if the incumbent DMC Chairperson Hukheto Yepthomi, retains majority support. 

The notice, issued on May 14, stated that the May 22 ‘meeting’ was necessitated to consider the motion of no-confidence submitted by two elected DMC members, whose names were not revealed. The letter carried the signatures of 12 of the 23-member municipal council. It said that the motion was found to be in conformity with provisions laid down under Chapter-II, Section 15 (1) and (2) of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023. 

It said, “The undersigned is satisfied that the motion is procedurally valid and warrants the convening of a special meeting for consideration of the motion.” Exercising powers conferred by Section 15 (3) read with Section 15 (4) of the Act, the DC directed the elected members to attend the session. It barred ex-officio members and the nominated members from attention the trust vote.

As per Section 60F of the Nagaland Municipal Act, the quorum necessary for conducting a ‘special meeting’ — in this case a no-confidence motion — is “one-half of the total elected members actually serving at the time.” 

Section 15 (6) of the same Act, which deals with the ‘Removal of Chairperson/Deputy Chairperson,’ states that the motion of no-confidence “shall be deemed to have been carried only when it has been passed by a majority of elected members present and voting.”