HC stops BMC from engaging court staff

Bombay HC questions the power and jurisdiction of the BMC chief in a late-night sitting at chief justice's home

- Urvi Mahajani

In a special hearing held on Tuesday night at the residence of Bombay HC's chief justice, the court stayed letters issued by the BMC commissioner asking staff of subordinate courts to report for civic polls duty. It also questioned the BMC chief of his power and jurisdiction.

A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Ashwin Bhobe said:

"The Municipal Commissioner, BMC-cum-District Election Officer is restrained from issuing any letter/communication to the court staff of HC or subordinate courts requisitioning their services for election duty."

In its order in September 2008, HC's Administrative Judges' Committee had decided that the staff of the high court and all subordinate courts will be exempted from election duty.