Municipal Corporations Act Guide
Municipal Corporations Act Guide
1949 
 
CONTENTS 
 
Preamble 
Sections 
CHAPTER  I 
PRELIMINARY 
 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement 
2.  Definitions 
3.  Specifications of larger urban areas and constitution of corporations 
3A.  Deleted 
 
CHAPTER  II 
PRELIMINARY 
 
4.  Municipal Authorities charged with execution of the Act 
5.  Constitution of Corporation 
5A.  Reservation of seats 
5B.     Person contesting election for reserved seat to submit Caste          
Certificate and Validity Certificate 
6A.  Term of Office of Councillors 
6B.  Election to constitute a Corporation 
7.  Resignation of office by Councillor 
7A1.  Deleted 
 
Municipal Election Roll 
 
7A.  Preparation of Municipal election roll 
7AA.  Deleted 
7AAA. Deleted 
7B.  Enrolment in municipal election roll 
 
Qualifications and disqualifications of voters and Councillors 
 
8.  Persons qualified to vote 
9.  Qualification for Election as Councillor 
10.  Disqualification for being a Councillor 
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11.  Disabilities from continuing as Councillor 
12.  Questions as to disqualification to be determined by the Judge 
13.  Liability of Councillors to removal 
 
Election of Councillors 
 
14.  State Election Commission 
14A.  Power of State Election Commissioner to issue directions to prevent  
impersonation 
15.  Casual vacancies how to be filled 
16.  Election petitions 
17.  Deleted 
18.  Procedure if election fails or is set aside 
19.  Mayor and Deputy Mayor 
 
CHAPTER IX 
THE MUNICIPAL FUND AND OTHER FUNDS 
The Municipal Fund 
 
88.  Purpose for which Municipal Fund is to be applied 
 
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CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
 
1.  Short title, extent and commencement : (1) This Act may be called the 
Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporations Act, 1949. 
  (2)  It extends to the areas of Municipal Corporations constituted or 
deemed to be constituted under the Act. 
 
2.  Definitions  :  In  this  Act,  unless  there  be  something  repugnant  in  the 
subject or context, 
  (1)  "Appendix" means an Appendix to this Act. 
  (2A)  "approved  co-operative  bank"  means  such  co-operative  Bank 
registered  or  deemed  to  be  registered  under  the  Bombay  Co-operative 
Societies  Act,  1925,  as  may  be  approved  by  the  State  Government  by 
general or special order; 
  (2B)  "Assembly  Constituency"  means  a  constituency  provided  by 
law for the purpose of elections to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, or 
any part thereof which is for the time being comprised in the City; 
  (2C)  "Assembly  roll"  means  the  electoral  roll  prepared  for  any 
Assembly  constituency  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Representation of the People Act, 1950; 
  (3)  "bakery  or  bake-house"  means  any  place  in  which  bread, 
biscuits  or  confectionery  are  baked,  cooked  or  prepared  in  any  manner 
whatsoever for the purposes of sale or profit; 
  (3A)  "Backward Class of citizens" means such classes or parts of or 
groups  within  such  classes  as  are  declared,  from  time  to  time,  by  the  State 
Government to be Other Backward Classes and Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic 
Tribes; 
  (4)  "budget grant" means the total sum entered on the expenditure 
side  of  a  budget  estimate  under  a  major  head  as  prescribed  by  rules  and 
adopted  by  the  Corporation,  and  includes  any  sum  by  which  such  budget 
grant  may  be  increased  or  reduced  by  a  transfer  from  or  to  other  heads  in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act and rules; 
  (5)  "building"  includes  a  house,  out-house,  stable,  shed,  but  and 
other  enclosure  or  structure  whether  of  masonry,  bricks,  wood,  mud,  metal 
or  any  other  material  whatever,  whether  used  as  a  human  dwelling  or 
otherwise,  and  also  includes  verandahs,  fixed platforms, plinths, doorsteps, 
walls including compound walls and fencing and the like; 
  (5A)  "business" includes,- 
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  (a)  any  trade,  commerce,  profession,  consumption  or  manufacture 
or  any  adventure  or  concern  in  the  nature  of  trade,  commerce,  profession, 
consumption  or  manufacture  whether  or  not  such  trade,  commerce, 
profession,  consumption,  manufacture,  adventure  or  concern  is  carried  on 
with  a  motive  to  make  gain  or  profit  and  whether  or  not  any  gain  or profit 
accrues from such trade, commerce, profession, consumption, manufacture, 
adventure  or  concern  and  whether  or  not  there  is  any  volume,  frequency, 
continuity  or  regularity  in  such  trade,  commerce,  profession,  consumption, 
manufacture, adventure or concern; 
  (b)  any transaction in connection with, or incidental or ancillary to, 
such  trade,  commerce,  profession,  consumption,  manufacture,  adventure  or 
concern,  whether  or  not  such  transaction  is  in  respect  of  capital  assets  and 
whether or not it is effected with motive to make gain or profit and whether 
or not any gain or profit accrues from such transaction, and whether or not, 
there is any volume, frequency, continuity or regularity in such transaction; 
  (c)  any  occasional  transaction  in  the  nature  of  such  trade, 
commerce,  profession,  consumption,  manufacture,  adventure  or  concern 
involving import, purchase or sale of goods in the City, whether or not there 
is  any  volume,  frequency,  continuity  or  regularity  to  such  transaction  and 
whether  or  not  such  transaction  is  effected  with  a  motive  to  make  gain  or 
profit and whether or not any gain or profit accrues from such transaction; 
  (d)  any transaction in connection with, or incidental or ancillary to, 
the  commencement  or  closure  of  such  trade,  commerce,  profession, 
consumption,  manufacture,  adventure  or  concern,  whether  or  not  such 
transaction  is  effected  with  a  motive  to make gain or profit and whether or 
not any gain or profit accrues from such transaction.  
  Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, the activities of raising 
of man-made fores4ts or rearing of seedlings or plants shall be deemed to be 
a business;" 
  (6)  "by-law" means a by-law made under section 458; 
  (6A)  "cess" means a cess on the entry of goods into the limits of the 
City  for  consumption,  use  or  sale  therein  levied  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions of Chapter XI-A, but does not include octroi as defined in clause 
(42). 
  (7)  "cesspool"  includes  a  settlement  tank  or  other  tank  for  the 
reception or disposal of foul matter from buildings; 
  (8)  "City"  means  the  larger  urban  area  specified  in  a  notification 
issued  in  respect  thereof  under  clause  (2)  of  Article  243-Q  of  the 
Constitution  of  India  or  under  sub-section  (2)  of  section  3  of  the  Act, 
forming a City; 
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  (9)  "the  Commissioner"  means  the  Municipal  Commissioner  for 
the  City  appointed  under  section  36  and  includes  an  acting  Commissioner 
appointed under section 39; 
  (10)  "Corporation"  means  the Municipal Corporation constituted or 
deemed to have been constituted for a larger urban area known as a City; 
  (11)  "Councillor"  means  a  person  duly  elected  as  a  member  of  the 
Corporation;  and  includes  a  nominated  Councillor  who  shall  not  have  the 
right- 
  (i)  to  vote  at  any  meeting  of  the  Corporation  and 
Committees of the Corporations; and 
  (ii)  to  get  elected  as  a  Mayor  of  the  Corporation  or  a 
Chairperson of any of the Committees of the corporation. 
 
  (12)  "cubical  contents"  when  used  with  reference  to  the 
measurement  of  a  building  means  the  space  contained  within  the  external 
surfaces of its walls and roof and the upper surface of the floor of its lowest 
storey or where the building consists of one storey only, the upper surface of 
its floor; 
  (13)  "dairy" includes any farm, cattle-shed, milk store, milk shop, or 
other place from where milk is supplied for sale or in which milk is kept for 
the purposes of sale or manufactured into butter, ghee, cheese, curds or dried 
or  condensed  milk  for  sale  and,  in  the  case  of  a  dairyman  who  does  not 
occupy any place for the sale of milk, includes the place where he keeps the 
vessels used by him for the sale of milk but does not include a shop or other 
place in which milk is sold for consumption on the premises only; 
  (14)  dairyman  includes  the  keeper  of  a  cow,  buffalo,  goat,  ass  or 
other animal, the milk of which is offered or intended to be offered for sale 
for  human  consumption,  and  any  purveyor  of  milk  and  any  occupier  of  a 
dairy; 
  (15)  dairy  produce  includes  milk,  butter,  ghee,  curd,  butter  milk, 
cream, cheese and every product of milk; 
  (16)  dangerous  disease  means  cholera,  plague,  smallpox  or  any 
other  epidemic  or  infectious  disease  by  which  the  life  of  human  beings  is 
endangered  and  which  the  Corporation  may  from  time  to  time  by  public 
notice declare to be a dangerous disease; 
  (16A) dealer  means  any  person  who  whether  for  commission, 
remuneration  or  otherwise  imports,  buys  or  sells  any  goods  in  the  City  for 
the  purpose  of  his  business  or  in  connection  with  or  incidental  to  his 
business, and includes, 
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(a)  a  factor,  broker,  commission  agent,  del  credere  agent  or  any 
other  mercantile  agent,  by  whatever  name  called,  and  whether 
or  not  of  the  same  description  as  hereinbefore  specified  who 
buys,  sells,  supplies,  distributes  or  imports  any  goods  in  the 
City, belonging to any principal or principals whether disclosed 
or not; 
(b)  an  auctioneer,  who  sells  or  auctions  goods  in  the  City, 
belonging  to  any  principal  whether  disclosed  or  not  and 
whether the offer of the intending purchaser is accepted by him 
or by the principal or a nominee of the principal; 
(c)  the  Central  Government  or  any  State  Government  which 
(whether  or  not  while  carrying  on  business)  buys,  sells, 
supplies, distributes or imports goods directly or otherwise, for 
commission, remuneration or otherwise; 
(d)  a  society,  club  or  other  association  of  persons  (whether 
incorporated or not) which, whether while carrying on business 
or  not,  imports,  buys,  sells,  supplies  or  distributes  goods 
whether for or on behalf of its members or not, for cash or for 
deferred  payment  or,  for  commission,  remuneration  or 
otherwise. 
Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause,- 
  (A)  a manager or agent of a non-resident dealer residing in the City 
who imports, buys, sells, supplies or distributes goods in the City or acts on 
behalf of such dealer as- 
(a)  a mercantile agent as defined in the Sale of Goods Act, 1930, or 
(b)  an agent for handling of goods or documents of title relating to 
goods, or 
(c)  an  agent  for  the  collection or the payment for the sale price of 
goods shall be deemed to be a dealer or as a guarantor for such 
collection or payment; 
(B)  each  of  the  following persons  and bodies  who  disposes  of any 
goods including goods as unclaimed or confiscated or an unserviceable or as 
scrap, surplus, old, obsolete or discarded material or water products whether 
by auction or otherwise directly or through an agent for cash, or for deferred 
payment,  or  for  any  other  valuable  consideration,  shall,  notwithstanding 
anything  contained  in  clause  (5A)  of  any  other  provisions  of  this  Act,  be 
deemed to be a dealer, namely:- 
(a)  Port Trusts; 
(b)  Municipal  Corporations,  Municipal  Councils,  Zilla  Parishads 
and other local authorities; 
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(c)  Railway  administration  as  defined  under  the  Indian  Railways 
Act, 1890; 
(d)  Shipping, Transport and Construction Companies; 
(e)  Air Transport Companies and Airlines; 
(f)  Transporters,  holding  permit  for  transport  vehicles  granted 
under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 which are used or adapted 
to be used for hire or reward; 
(g)  Maharashtra  State  Road  Transport  Corporation  constituted 
under the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950; 
(h)  Customs Department of the Government of India administering 
the Customs Act, 1962; 
(i)  Insurance  and  Financial  Corporations  or  Companies,  and 
Banking Companies; 
(j)  Advertising agencies; 
(k)  any other Corporations, Company, Body or Authority owned or 
set-up  by,  or  subject  to  administrative  control  of,  the  Central 
Government or any State Government. 
Exception.-  (i)  Any  individual  who  imports  goods  for  his  exclusive 
consumption or use and a department of State or Central Government 
not engaged in business shall not be a dealer; 
(ii)  An  agriculturist  who  sells  exclusively  agricultural  produce 
grown on the land cultivated by him personally shall not be deemed to 
be a dealer within the meaning of this clause. 
 
  (17)  drain  includes  a  sewer,  tunnel,  pipe,  ditch,  gutter  or  channel 
and  any  cistern,  flush-tank,  septic  tank  or  other  device  for  carrying  off  or 
treating sewage, offensive matter, polluted water, sullage, waster water, rain 
water,  or  sub-soil  water  and  any  culvert,  ventilation  shaft  or  pipe  or  other 
appliance  or  fitting  connected  therewith,  and  any  ejectors,  compressed  air 
mains, sealed sewage mains and special machinery or apparatus for raising, 
collecting expelling or removing sewage or offensive matter from any place; 
  (18)  eating house means any premises to which the public or any 
sections of the public are admitted and where any kind of food is prepared or 
supplied for consumption on the premises or elsewhere for the profit or gain 
of any person owning or having an interest in or managing such premises; 
  (19)  essential services means any services in which any Municipal 
Officer,  servant  or  other  person  is  employed  by  or  on  behalf  of  the 
Corporation and which are specified in the rules; 
  (20)  factory means a factory as defined in the Factories Act, 1948; 
  (21)  filth includes sewage, night soil and all offensive matter; 
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  (21A) Finance  Commission  means  the  Finance  Commission 
constituted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Article  243-I  of  the 
Constitution of India; 
  (22)  food  includes  every  article  used  for  food  or  drink  by  man 
other  than drugs or water, and any article which ordinarily enters into or is 
used  in  the  composition  or  preparation  of  human  food  and  also  includes 
confectionery, flavouring and colouring matters and speices and condiments; 
  (23)  form means a form appended to the rules; 
  (24)  frame building means a building the external walls of which 
are constructed of timber framing or iron framing, and the stability of which 
depends on such framing; 
  (25)  goods includes animals; 
  (26)  house-drain means any drain of, and used for the drainage of, 
one  or  more  buildings  or  premises  and  made  merely  for  the  purpose  of 
communicating there from with a municipal drain; 
  (27)  house gully or service passage means a passage or strip of 
land constructed, set apart or utilised for the purpose of serving as a drain or 
of affording access to a privy, urinal, cesspool or other receptacle for filthy 
or  polluted  matter,  to  municipal  servants  or  to  persons  employed  in  the 
cleansing thereof or in the removal of such matter therefrom; 
  (28)  hut  means  any  buildings  which  is  constructed  principally  of 
wood,  mud,  leaves,  grass,  cloth  or  thatch  and  includes  any  temporary 
structure of whatever size or any small building of whatever material made 
which the Corporation may declare to be a hut for the purposes of this Act; 
  (28A) importer means a person who brings or causes to be brought 
any goods into the limits of the City from any place outside the area of the 
City for use, consumption or sale therein; 
  (29)  the Judge means in the City of Pune the Judge of the Court of 
Small  Causes,  and  in  any  other  City  the  Civil  Judge  (Senior  Division) 
having jurisdiction in the City; 
  (30)  land includes land which is being built upon or is built upon 
or  covered  with  water,  benefits  to  arise  out  of  land,  things  attached  to  the 
earth  or  permanently  fastened  to  anything  attached  to  the  earth  and  rights 
created by legislative enactment over any street; 
  (30A) larger  urban  area  means  an  area  specified  as  a  larger  urban 
area  in  a  notification  issued  under  clause  (2)  of  Article  243-Q  of  the 
Constitution of India or under the Act; 
  (31)  licensed  plumber  licensed  surveyor  licensed  architect 
licensed  engineer,  licensed  structural  designer,  and  licensed  clerk  of 
works,  respectively,  means  a  person  licensed  by  the  Corporation  as  a 
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plumber, surveyor, architect engineer, structural designer or a clerk of works 
under this Act; 
  (32)  lodging house means a building or a part of a building where 
lodging  with  or  without  board  or  other  service  is  provided  for  a  monetary 
consideration; 
  (33)  market means any place where persons assemble for the sale 
of, or for the purpose of exposing for sale, live-stock or food for live-stock 
or meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, animals intended for human food or any other 
articles of human food whatever with or without the consent of the owner of 
such place, notwithstanding that there may be no common regulation of the 
concourse of buyers and sellers and whether or not any control is exercised 
over the business or the persons frequenting the market by the owner of the 
place or any other person; 
  (34)  masonry  building  means  any  building  other  than  a  frame 
building  or  a  hut  and  includes  any  structure,  a  substantial  part  of  which  is 
made of masonry or of steel, iron or other metal; 
(35)  municipal drain means a drain vested in the Corporation; 
(36)  municipal  market  means  a  market  vested  in  or  managed  by 
the Corporation; 
  (37)  municipal slaughter house means a slaughter house vested in 
or managed by the Corporation; 
  (38)  municipal  tax  means  any  impost  levied  under  the provisions 
of this Act; 
  (39)  municipal  water-works  means  water-works  belonging  to  or 
vesting in the Corporation; 
  (40)  nuisance  includes  any  act,  omission,  place  or  thing  which 
causes or is likely to cause injury, danger, annoyance or offence to the sense 
of sight, smell or hearing or which is or may be dangerous to life or injuries 
to health or property; 
(41)  occupier includes,- 
(a)  any person who for the time being is paying or is liable to pay 
to  the  owner  the  rent  or  any  portion  of  the  rent  of  the  land  or 
building in respect of which such rent is paid or is payable, 
(b)  an owner living in or otherwise using his land or building, 
(c)  a rent-free tenant, 
(d)  a licensee in occupation of any land or building, and 
(e)  any  person  who  is  liable  to  pay  to  the  owner  damages  for  the 
use and occupation of any land or building; 
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(42)  octroi means a cess on the entry of goods into the limits of a 
city  for  consumption,  use  or  sale  therein;  but  does  not  include  a  cess  as 
defined in clause (6A) 
(43)  offensive  matter  includes  animal  carasses,  dung  dirt  and 
putrid or putrifying substances other than  sewage. 
(44)  official  year  means  the  year  commencing  on  the  first  day  of 
April; 
(45)  owner means,- 
(a)  when  used  with  reference  to  any  premises,  the  person  who 
receives the rent of the said premises, or who would be entitled 
to receive the rent thereof if the premises were let and includes,- 
(i)  an agent or trustee who receives such rent on account of 
the owner 
(ii)  an  agent  or  trustee  who  receives  the  rent  of,  or  is 
entrusted with or concerned for, any premises devoted to 
religious or charitable purposes. 
(iii)  a  Receiver,  Sequestrator  or  Manager  appointed  by  any 
Court of competent jurisdiction to have the charge of, or 
to  exercise  the  rights  of  an  owner  of,  the  said  premises; 
and 
(iv)  mortgage-in-possession, and 
(b)  when  used  with  reference  to  any  animal,  vehicle  or  boat 
includes the person for the time being in charge of the animal, 
vehicle or boat; 
(46)  premises  includes  messuages,  buildings  an  lands  of  any 
tenure  whether  open  or  enclosed,  whether  built  on  or  not  and 
whether public or private; 
(46A) prescribed means prescribed by rules 
(47)  private street means a street which is not an public street; 
(48)  privy  means  a  place  set  apart  for  defecating  or  urinating  or 
both,  together  with  the  structure  comprising  such  place,  the 
receptacle  therein  for  human  excreta  and  the  fittings  and 
apparatus, if any, connected therewith, and includes a closet of 
the dry type, an aqua privy, a latrine and a urinal; 
(49)  property tax means a tax on buildings and lands in the City; 
(50)  public place includes any public park or garden or any ground 
to which the public have or are permitted to have access; 
(51)  public securities means,- 
(a)  securities  of  the  Central  Government  or  any  State 
Government, 
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(b)  securities,  stocks,  debentures  or  share  the  interest 
whereon has been guaranteed by the Central or the State 
Government, 
(c)  debentures or other securities for money issued by or on 
behalf  of  any  local  authority  in  exercise  of  the  powers 
conferred by any enactment for the time being in force in 
any part of the territory of India, 
(d)  securities  expressly  authorized  by  any  order  which  the 
State Government makes in this behalf; 
(52)  public street means any street,- 
(a)  heretofore levelled, paved, metalled, channelled, sewered 
or repaired out of municipal or other public fund, or  
(b)  which under the provisions of section 224 is declared to 
be,  or  under  any  other  provision  of  this  Act  becomes,  a 
public street. 
(53)  rack  rent  means  the  amount  of  the annual rent for which the 
premises with reference to which the term is used might reasonably be 
expected  to  let  from  year  to  year  as  ascertained  for  the  purpose  of 
fixing the rateable value of such premises.  
  (54)  rateable  value means the value of any building or land fixed 
in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules for the purpose of 
assessment to property taxes; 
  (54A) registered  dealer  means  a  dealer  registered  under  section 
152F; 
(55)  regulation means a regulation made under section 465; 
(56)(a) a person is deemed to reside in any dwelling which, or some 
portion  of  which  he  sometimes  uses,  whether  interruptedly  or 
not as a sleeping apartment, and 
        (b)  a  person  is  not  deemed  to  cease  to  reside  in  any  such 
dwelling  merely  because  he  is  absent  from  it  or  has  elsewhere  another 
dwelling  in  which  he  resides  if  there  is  the  liberty  of  returning  to  it  at  any 
time and no abandonment of the intention of returning to it; 
  (57)  rubbish  includes  dust,  ashes,  broken  bricks,  mortar,  broken 
glass,  garden  or  stable  refuse  of  any  kind  which  is  not  offensive  matter  or 
sewage; 
  (58)  rules  include  rules  in  the  Schedule  D  and  rules  made  under 
sections 454 and 456; 
(59)  Schedule means Schedule appended to this Act. 
(59A) scheduled  bank  means  a  bank  included  in  the  Second 
Schedule to the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934; 
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  (59B) Scheduled  Castes  means  such  castes,  races  or  parts  of,  or 
groups within, such castes, races or tribes as are deemed to be the Scheduled 
Castes  in  relation  to  the  State  of  Maharashtra  under  Article  341  of  the 
Constitution of India; 
  (59C) Scheduled Tribes means such tribes or tribal communities or 
parts  of,  of  groups  within,  such  tribe  or  tribes  or  tribal  communities  as  are 
deemed  to  be  the  Scheduled  tribe  in  relation  to  the  State  of  Maharashtra 
under Article 342 of the Constitution of India; 
  (60)  sewage means night-soil and other contents of water closets, 
latrines,  privies,  urinals,  cesspools  or  drains  and  polluted  ware  from  sinks, 
bathrooms,  stables,  cattle-sheds  and  other  like  places,  and  includes  trade 
effluent and discharges from manufacturers of all kinds; 
  (61)  special fund means a fund constituted under section 91; 
(62)  standing order means an order made under section 466; 
(62A) State  Election  Commission  means  the  State  Election 
Commission  consisting  of  the  State  Election  Commissioner  appointed  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  clause  (1)  of  Article  243-K  of  the 
Constitution of India; 
   (63)  street  includes  any  highway,  and  any  cause  way,  bridge, 
viaduct,  arch,  road,  lane,  footway,  sub-way,  court,  alleay  or  riding parth  or 
passage, whether a thoroughfare or not, over which the public have a right of 
passage or access or have passed and had access uninterruptedly for a period 
of  twenty  years,  and,  when  there  is  a  footway  as  well  as  a  carriage  way  in 
any street, the said term includes both; 
  (64)  sweetmeat  shop  means  any premises or part of any premises 
used  for  the  manufacture,  treatment  or  storage  for  sale,  or  for  the  sale, 
wholesale or retail of any icecream, confections or sweetmeats whatsoever, 
for whomsoever intended, and by whatsoever name the same may be known, 
and whether the same may be for consumption on or outside the premises; 
(65)  theatre tax means a tax on amusements or entertainments; 
(66)  trade  effluent  means  any  liquid  either  with  or  without 
particles of matter in suspension therein, which is wholly or in part produced 
in  the  course  of  any  trade  or  industry  carried  on  at  trade  premises,  and  in 
relation  to  any  trade premises, means any such liquid as aforesaid which is 
so  produced  in  the  course  of  any  trade  or  industry  carried  on  at  those 
premises, but does not include domestic sewage; 
(67)  trade  premises  means  any  premises  used  or  intended  to  be 
used for carrying on any trade or industry; 
(68)  trade  refuse  means  and  includes  the  refuse  of  any  trade, 
manufacture or business; 
  13
(69)  Transport  Manager  means  the  Transport  Manager  of  the 
Transport  Undertaking  appointed  under  section  40  and  includes  an  acting 
Transport Manager appointed under section 41; 
(70)  Transport  Undertaking  means  all  undertakings  acquired, 
organized, constructed, maintained, extended, managed or conducted by the 
Corporation  for  the  purpose  of  providing  mechanically  propelled  transport 
facilities  for  the  conveyance  of  the  public  and  includes  all  movable  and 
immovable property  and  rights  vested  or  vesting in the Corporation for the 
purposes of every such undertaking; 
(70A) Turnover of purchases means the aggregate of the amount of 
purchase  price  paid  and  payable  by  a  dealer  or  a  person  in  respect  of  any 
purchase  of  goods  made  by  him  during  a  given  period,  after  deducting  the 
amount of purchase price, if any, refunded to the dealer or the person by the 
seller in respect of any goods purchased from the seller and returned to him 
within a period of six months; 
(70B) turnover  of  sales  means  the  aggregate  of  the  amount  of  sale 
price received and receivable by a dealer or a person in respect of any sale of 
goods made during a given period after deducting the amount of sale price, 
if any refunded by him to a purchaser, in respect of any goods purchased any 
returned by the purchaser to him within a period a six months and where the 
registration  certificate  is  cancelled  the  amount,  in  respect  of  sales  made 
before  the  date  on  which  the  cancellation  became  effective,  received  or 
receivable after such date; 
  (71)  vehicle includes a carriage, a cart, van, dray, truck, hand-cart, 
bicycle, tricycle, motor car, and every wheeled conveyance which is used or 
is capable of being used on a street; 
  (71A) Wards  Committee  means  a  Wards  Committee  constituted 
under section 29A of this Act. 
  (72)  water-closet  means  a  closet  which  has  a  separate  fixed 
receptacle  connected  to  a  drainage  system  and  separate  provision  for 
flushing from a supply of clean water either by the operation of mechanism 
by automatic action; 
(73)  water-connection includes  
(a)  any tank, cistern, hydrant, stand-pipe, meter or tap situated on a 
private  property  and  connected  with  water-main  or  pipe 
belonging to the Corporation; and 
(b)  the  water-pipe  connecting  such  tank,  cistern,  hydrant,  stand-
pipe, meter or tap with such water  main or pipe. 
(74)  water-course  includes  any  river,  stream,  or  channel  whether 
natural or artificial; 
  14
  (75)  water for domestic purposes shall not include water for cattle, 
or for horses, or for washing vehicles, when the cattle, horses or vehicles are 
kept for sale or hire, or by a common carrier, and shall not include water for 
any trade, manufacture or business, or for building purposes, or for watering 
gardens, or for fountains or for any ornamental or mechanical purposes; 
  (76)  water-work  includes  a  lake,  stream,  spring,  well,  pump, 
reservoir,  cistern,  tank,  duct,  whether  covered  or  open,  sluice,  mainpipe, 
culvert,  engine,  water-truck,  hydrant,  stand-pipe,  conduit,  and  machinery, 
land,  building  or  thing  for  supplying  or  used  for  supplying  water  or  for 
protecting sources of water supply. 
 
3.  Specification  of  larger  urban  areas  and  constitution  of 
Corporation. (1) The Corporation for every City constituted under this Act 
existing  on  the  date  of  coming  into  force  of  the  Maharashtra  Municipal 
Corporations and Municipal Councils (Amendment) Act, 1994, specified as 
a larger urban area in the notification issued in respect thereof under clause 
(2) of Article 243-Q of the Constitution of India, shall be deemed to be duly 
constituted  Municipal  Corporation  for  the  larger  urban  area  so  specified 
forming a City, known by the name The Municipal Corporation of the City 
of ....... 
  (2)  Save as provided in sub-section (1), the State Government may, 
having regard to the factors mentioned in clause (2) of Article 243-Q of the 
Constitution  of  India,  specify  by  notification  in  the  Official  Gazette,  and 
urban  area  with  a  population  of  not  less  than  three  lakhs  as  a  larger  urban 
area. 
  (3)(a) subject  to  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (2),  the  State 
Government  may  also  from  time  to  time  after  consultation  with  the 
Corporation by notification in the Official Gazette, alter the limits specified 
for  any  larger  urban  area  under  sub-section  (1)  or  sub-section  (2)  so  as  to 
include  therein,  or  to  exclude  therefrom,  such  area  as  is  specified  in  the 
notification. 
     (b)  Where any area is included within the limits of the larger urban 
area  under  clause  (a)  any  appointment,  notifications,  notices,  taxes,  orders, 
schemes,  licences,  permissions,  rules,  by-laws  or  forms  made,  issued, 
imposed  or  granted under this Act or any other law, which are for the time 
being  in  force  in  the  larger  urban  area,  shall,  notwithstanding  anything 
contained in any other law for the time being in force but save as otherwise 
provided in section 129A or any other provision of this Act, apply to and be 
in force in the additional area also from the date that area is included in the 
larger urban area. 
  15
  (4)  The  power  to  issue  a  notification  under  this  section  shall  be 
subject to the condition of previous publication.  
 
 
CHAPTER II 
CONSTITUTION 
Municipal Authorities 
 
4.  Municipal Authorities charged with execution of the Act : (1) The 
Municipal  Authorities  charged  with  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  this  Act 
are for each City -- 
(A)  a Corporation; 
(B)  a Standing Committees; and 
(C)  a Municipal Commissioner; 
and,  in  the  event  of  the  Corporation  establishing  or  acquiring  a  Transport 
Undertaking, 
(D)  a Transport Committee; 
(E)  a Transport Manager. 
 
(2)  The  duties  imposed  on  the  Corporation  in  respect  of  primary 
education  shall  be  performed  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the 
Bombay Primary Education Act, 1947, and for the purposes of the said Act 
the Corporation shall be deemed to be an authorised municipality within the 
meaning  of  the  said  Act  with power  to  control  all  approved  schools  within 
the City, and to appoint an Administrative Officer. 
 
5.  Constitution  of  Corporation  :  (1)  Every  Corporation  shall,  by  the 
name  of  The  Municipal  Corporation  of  the  City  of  ......,  be  a  body 
corporate  and  have  perpetual  succession  and  a  common  seal  and  by  such 
name may sue and be sued. 
(2)  Each Corporation shall consist of, - 
(a)  such number of Councillors, elected directly at ward elections, 
as is specified in the table below:- 
 
TABLE 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
  Population        Number of Councillors 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
(i) Above 3 lakhs and upto 6 lakhs  The minimum number of elected Councillors 
          shall be 65. 
          For every additional population of 15,000 above  
  16
3 lakhs, one additional Councillor shall be provided, 
so  however  that  the  maximum  number  of  elected 
Councillors shall not exceed 85. 
 
(ii)  Above 6 lakhs and    The minimum number of elected Councillors 
upto 12 lakhs      shall be 85. 
          For every additional population of 20,000 above 
          6 lakhs. one additional Councillor shall be provided,  
so  however  that  the  maximum  number  of  elected 
councillors shall not exceed 115. 
 
(iii)  Above 12 lakhs and    The  minimum  number  of  elected  Councillors  shall 
upto 24 lakhs.      be 115. 
For every additional population of 40,000 above 12 
lakhs,  one  additional  Councillor  shall  be  provided, 
so  however  that  the  maximum  number  of  elected 
Councillors shall not exceed 145. 
 
(iv)  Above 24 lakhs    The minimum number of Councillors shall be 145. 
For  every  additional  population  of  1  lakh,  one 
additional Councillor shall be provided, so that, the 
maximum  number  of  elected  Councillors  shall  be 
221; 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
  (b)  such number of nominated Councillors not exceeding five, having special 
knowledge  or  experience  in  Municipal  Administration,  to  be  nominated  by  the 
Corporation in such manner as may be prescribed; 
  (3)  The State Election Commissioner shall, from time to time, by notification 
in the Official Gazette, specify for each City the number and boundaries of the wards into 
which  such  City shall be divided for the purpose of the ward election of Councillors, so 
that, as far as practicable, all wards shall be compact areas and the number of persons in 
each  ward  according  to  the  latest  census  figures  shall  approximately  be  the  same.    Each 
of the wards shall elect only one  Councillor: 
  Provided that no notification issued under sub-section (3) whether before or after 
the  commencement  of  the  Maharashtra  Municipal  Corporation,  Municipal  Councils, 
Nagar  Panchayats  and  Industrial  Townships  (Third  Amendment)  Act,  1995,  shall  have 
effect  except  for  the  general  election  held  next  after  the  date  thereof  and  for  subsequent 
elections. 
  Provided also that, before any notification is issued under sub-section (3), a draft 
thereof  shall  be  published  in  the  Official  Gazette,  and  in  such  other  manner  as  in  the 
opinion of the State Election Commissioner is best calculated to bring the information to 
the  notice  of  all  persons  likely  to  be  affected  thereby,  together,  with  a  notice  specifying 
the  date  on  or  before  which  any  objections or suggestions will be received, and the date 
after which the draft will be taken into consideration.  
  Explanation II.- In this sub-section and sub-section (4), Scheduled Tribes means 
such  tribes  or  tribal  communities  or  parts  of,  or  groups  within,  such  tribes  or  tribal 
  17
communities as are deemed to be Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Maharashtra 
under Article 342 of the Constitution of India. 
 
5A.  Reservation of seats.: (1)(a) In the seats to be filled in by election in 
a  Corporation,  there  shall  be  seats  reserved  for  persons  belonging  to  the 
Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes,  Backward  Class  of  citizens  and 
women,  as  may  be  determined  by  the  State  Election  Commissioner,  in  the 
prescribed manner; 
  (b)  the  seats  to  be  reserved  for  the  persons  belonging  to  the 
Scheduled  Castes  and  the  Scheduled  Tribes  in  a  Corporation  shall  bear,  as 
nearly  as  may  be,  the  same  proportion  to  the  total  number  of  seats  to  be 
filled  in  by  direct  election  in  the  Corporation  as  the  population  of  the 
Scheduled  Castes  or,  as  the  case  may  be,  the  Scheduled  Tribes  in  that 
Corporation  area  bears  to  the  total  population  of  that  area  and  such  seats 
shall be allotted by rotation to different electoral wards in a Corporation : 
  Provided that one-third of the total number of seats so reserved shall 
be  reserved  for  women  belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Castes  or,  as  the  case 
may be, the Scheduled Tribes : 
  Provided  further  that,  where  only  one  seat  is  reserved  for  the 
Scheduled Castes, or as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes then no seat 
shall  be  reserved  for  women  belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Castes,  or  as  the 
case may be, the Scheduled Tribes and where only two seats are reserved for 
the  Scheduled  Castes,  or  as  the  case  may  be,  the  Scheduled  Tribes,  one  of 
the  two  seats  shall  be  reserved  for  women  belonging  to  the  Scheduled 
Castes, or as the case may be, the Scheduled Tribes. 
  (c)  the number of seats to be reserved for persons belonging to the 
category of Backward Class of citizens shall be twenty-seven per cent of the 
total  number  of  seats  to  be  filled  in  by  election  in  a  Corporation  and  such 
seats  shall  be  allotted  by  rotation  to  different  electoral  wards  in  a 
Corporation : 
  Provided that, one-third of the total number of seats so reserved shall 
be  reserved  for  women  belonging  to  the  category  of  Backward  Class  of 
citizens; 
  (d)  one-third  (including  the  number  of  seats  reserved  for  women 
belonging  to  the  Scheduled  Castes,  Scheduled  Tribes  and  the  category  of 
Backward  Class  of  citizens)  of  the  total  number  of  seats  to  be  filled  in  by 
direct election in a Corporation shall be reserved for women and such seats 
shall be allotted by rotation to different electoral wards in a Corporation. 
(2)  The reservation of seats, (other than the reservation for women) 
under clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall cease to have effect on 
  18
the  expiration  of  the  period  specified  in  Article  334  of  the 
Constitution of India. 
 
5B.          Person  contesting  election  for  reserved  seat  to  submit  Caste 
Certificate  and  Validity  Certificate:  Every  person  desirous  of  contesting 
election to a seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or, as 
the  case  may  be,  Backward  Class  of  Citizens,  shall  be  required  to  submit, 
along with the nomination paper, Caste Certificate issued by the Competent 
Authority  and  the  Validity  Certificate  issued  by  the  Scrutiny  Committee  in 
accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Maharashtra  Scheduled  Castes, 
Scheduled  Tribes,  De-notified  Tribes  (Vimukta  Jatis),  Nomadic  Tribes, 
Other  Backward  Classes  and  Special  Backward  Category  (Regulation  of 
Issuance and Verification of) Caste Certificate Act, 2000. 
 
  Provided that, a person who has applied to the Scrutiny Committee for 
the  verification  of  his  Caste  Certificate  before  the  date  of  filing  the 
nomination  paper  but  who  has  not  received  the  validity  certificate  on  the 
date  of  filing  of  the  nomination  paper  shall  submit  along  with  the 
nomination paper,- 
 
(i)  a  true  copy  of  the  application preferred by him to the Scrutiny 
Committee  for  the  verification  of  his  Caste  Certificate  before 
the date of filing the nomination paper but who has not received 
the  validity  certificate  on  the  date  of  filing  of  the  nomination 
paper shall submit, along with the nomination paper,- 
 
(ii)  an  undertaking  that  he  shall  submit,  within  a  period  of  four 
months  from  the  date  of  his  election,  the  validity  certificate 
issued by the Scrutiny Committee; 
 
Provided further that, if the person fails to produce the validity 
certificate  within  a  period  of  four  months  from  the  date  of  his 
election,  his  election  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  terminated 
retrospectively  and  he  shall  be  disqualified  for  being  a 
Councillor..   
 
6.  Duration  of  Corporation  :  (1)  Every  Corporation,  unless  sooner 
dissolved,  shall  continue  for  a period of five years from the date appointed 
for its first meeting and no longer. 
  19
  (2)  A Corporation constituted upon the dissolution of a Corporation 
before the expiration of its duration, shall continue for the remainder of the 
period for which the dissolved Corporation would have continued under sub-
section (1) had it not been so dissolved.  
 
6A.  Term of office of Councillors : The term of office of the Councillors 
shall be co-terminus with the duration of the Corporation. 
   
  6B.  Election  to  constitute  a  Corporation  :  An  election  to 
constitute a Corporation shall be completed, -  
(a)  before the expiration of its duration specified in sub-section  (1) 
of section 6; or 
(b)  before the expiration of a period of six months from the date of 
its dissolution: 
Provided  that  where  the  remainder  of  the  period  for  which  the 
dissolved Corporation would have continued is less than six months, it shall 
not be necessary to hold any election under this section for constituting the 
Corporation for such period.  
 
7.  Resignation of office by Councillor : Any Councillor may resign his 
office  at  any  time  by  notice  in  writing  to  the  Commissioner  and,  on  such 
notice  being  given,  his  office  shall  become  vacant  as  from  the  date  of  the 
notice. 
 
Municipal Election Roll 
 
7A.  Preparation  of  municipal  election  roll  :  The  Assembly  roll  for  the 
time  being  in  force,  on  such  date  as  the  State  Election  Commissioner  may, 
by  general  or  special  order  notify,  shall  be  divided  by  the  State  Election 
Commissioner into different sections corresponding to the different wards in 
the  City;  and  a  printed  copy  of  each  section  of  the  roll  so  divided  and 
authenticated by the State Election Commissioner or an officer authorised by 
him, shall be the ward roll for each ward. 
 
7B.  Enrolment in municipal election roll :- Every person whose name is 
included  in  any  ward  roll  shall  be  deemed  to  be  enrolled  in  the  municipal 
election roll. 
 
Qualifications and disqualifications of Voters and Councillors 
 
  20
8.  Persons  qualified  to  vote  :  Every  person  whose  name  is  in  a  ward 
roll,  shall  be  deemed  to  be  entitled  to  vote  at  the  ward  election,  and  every 
person whose name is not in the said roll shall be deemed to be not entitled 
so to vote.  
 
9.  Qualification  for  election  as  Councillor  :  (1)  Subject  to  the 
provisions of this Act, a person who is not less than twenty-one years of age 
on the last date fixed for making nominations for any general election or by-
election  and  is  enrolled  in  the  municipal  election roll  as  a  voter  for  a  ward 
shall be qualified to be a Councillor and to be elected either from such ward 
or from any other ward.  
  (2)  Any  person  who  ceases  to  be  a  Councillor  shall,  if  qualified 
under sub-section (1), be eligible for re-election as such.  
 
10.  Disqualification  for  being  a  Councillor  :  (1)  Subject  to  the 
provisions  of  sections  13  and  404,  a  person  shall  be  disqualified  for  being 
elected and for being a Councillor, if such person -- 
(ai)   has,  at  any  time  after  the  commencement  of  section  5  of  the 
Maharashtra  Municipal  Corporations  (Amendment)  Act,  1970,  been 
convicted  of an offence punishable under section 153A or sub-section (2) or 
(3) of section 505 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 : 
Provided  that,  such  disqualification  shall be  for a period of six years 
from the date of such conviction; 
(aii)   has been so disqualified by or under any law;  
(i) for the time being in force for the purpose of elections to the 
Legislature of the State : 
Provided that no person shall be disqualified on the ground that he is 
less  than  twenty-five  years  of  age,  if  he  has  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years; 
(ii) made by the Legislature of the State of Maharashtra; or 
(a) has  been  convicted  by  a  Court  in  India  of  any  offence  involving 
moral turpitude, unless a period of six years has elapsed since the 
date of such conviction; or 
Provided  that,  on  the  expiry  of  such  sentence,  the 
disqualification incurred under this clause shall cease : 
Provided  further  that  the  expiry  of  such  sentence  shall  not 
entitle the person to continue as a councillor or to stand for election 
for  election  at  any  bye-election  held  during  the  remainder  of  the 
current term of office of the councillors; 
(b) is undischarged insolvent; 
  21
(c) holds  the  office  of  Commissioner  or  any  other  office  or  place  of 
profit under the Corporation; 
(d) is  a  licensed  surveyor,  architect  or  engineer,  structural  designer, 
clerk  of  works  or  plumber  or  a  member  of  a  firm  of  which  any 
such licensed person is a member 
(e) holds  any  judical  office  with  jurisdiction  within  the  limits  of  the 
City; 
(f) subject  to  the  provisions  of  sub-section  (2),  has  directly  or 
indirectly  by  himself  or  his  partner  any  share  or  interest  in  any 
contract or employment with, by or on behalf of the Corporation; 
(g) having  been  elected  a  Councillor  is  retained  or  employed  in  any 
professional capacity either personally or in the name of a firm in 
which he is a partner or with whom he is engaged in a professional 
capacity in connection with any cause or proceeding in which the 
Corporation  or  the  Commissioner  or  the  Transport  Manager  is 
interested or concerned; or 
(h) fails  to  pay  arrears  of  any  kind  due  to  the  Corporation  by  him 
otherwise  than  as  a  trustee,  within  three  months  after  a  special 
notice in this behalf has been served on him by the Commissioner. 
(i)  has more than two children : 
Provided  that,  a person having more than two children on 
the  date  of  commencement  of  the  Maharashtra  Municipal 
Corporations  and  Municipal  Councils,  Nagar  Panchayats  and 
Industrial Townships (Second Amendment) Act, 1995 (hereinafter 
in this clause (referred to as "the date of which commencement"), 
shall not be disqualified under this clause so long as the number of 
children  he  had  on  the  date  of  such  commencement  does  not 
increase : 
Provided further that a child or more than one child born in 
a  single  delivery  within  the  period  of  one  year  from  the  date  of 
such  commencement  shall  not  be  taken  into  consideration  for  the 
purpose of disqualification mentioned in this clause. 
 
Explanation : For the purposes of this clause, - 
 
(i)  where  a  couple  has  only  one  child  on  or  after  the  date  of  such 
commencement,  any  number  of  children  born  out  of  a  single 
subsequent delivery shall be deemed to be one entity; 
(ii)   "child" does not include an adopted child or children. 
 
  22
(1A)    A  person  shall  be  disqualified  for  being  a  Councillor,  if  such 
person  has,  at  any  time  during  the  term  of  his  office,  become  disqualified 
under the Maharashtra Local Authority Member's Disqualification Act, 1986 
for being a Councillor. 
(2)  A  person  shall  not  be  deemed  to  have  incurred  disqualification 
under clause (f) of sub-section (1) by reason only of his, - 
(a)  receiving a municipal pension; 
(aa)   any relation being employed with, by or on behalf of the   
Corporation, as an officer or servant thereof; 
(b)  having any share or interest in 
(i)  any lease, sale, exchange or purchase of land or any agreement 
for the same; 
(ii)  any agreement for the loan of money or any security for the 
payment of money only; 
(iii)   any  newspaper  in  which  any  advertisement  relating  to  the 
affairs of the Corporation is inserted; 
(iv)   any  Joint  Stock  Company  or  any  society,  registered  or 
deemed  to  be  registered  under  the  Bombay  Cooperative 
Societies  Act,  1925,  which  shall  contract  with  or  be 
employed  by  the  Commissioner  or  the  Transport  Manager 
on behalf of the Corporation; 
(v)   the  occasional  sale  to  the  Commissioner  or  Transport 
Manager  on  behalf  of  the  Corporation  of  any  article  in 
which  he  regularly  trades  to  a  value  not  exceeding  in  the 
aggregate in any one official year two thousand rupees; or 
(vi)         the occasional letting out on hire to the Corporation or in the 
hiring from the Corporation of any article for an amount not 
exceeding  in  the  aggregate  in  any  one  official  year  five 
hundred rupees; 
(c)  occupying as a tenant for the purpose of residence any premises 
belonging to the Corporation; or 
(d)  receiving  conveyance  charges  as  a  member  of  the  Transport 
Committee. 
 
11.  Disabilities  from  continuing  as  Councillor  :    A  Councillor  shall 
cease to hold office as such if at any time during this term of office he, - 
(a)  becomes  disqualified  for  being  a  Councillor  by  reason  of  the 
provisions of section 10; 
  23
(b)  absents  himself  during  three  successive  months  from  the 
meetings  of  the  corporation,  except  from  temporary  illness  or 
other cause to be approved by the Corporation; 
(c)  absents  himself  from,  or  is  unable  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the 
Corporation  during  six  successive  months  from  any  cause 
whatever, whether approved by the Corporation or not; or 
(d)  acts  as  a  Councillor  or  as  a  member  of  any  Committee  of  the 
Corporation by  voting  on,  or  taking part in the discussion of, or 
asking  any  question  concerning  any  matter  in  which  he  has 
directly or indirectly by himself or his partner any such share or 
interest as is described in clause (b) or sub-section (20 of section 
10  or  in  which  he  is  professionally  interested  on  behalf  of  a 
client, principal or other person. 
 
12.  Questions  as  to  disqualification  to  be  determined  by  the  Judge  : 
(1)    If  any  doubt  or  dispute  arises  whether  a  Councillor  has  ceased  to  hold 
office  as  such  under  section  11,  such  Councillor  or  any  other  Councillor 
may, and at the request of the Corporation, the Commissioner shall, refer the 
question to the Judge. 
 
(2) On a reference being made to the Judge under sub-section (1) such 
Councillor  shall  not  be  deemed  to  be  disqualified  until  the  Judge  after 
holding  an  inquiry  in  the manner provided by or under this Act determines 
that he has ceased to hold office. 
 
13.  Liability  of  Councillors  to  removal  :-  (1)  The  State  Government 
may, on the recommendation of the Corporation supported b the vote of not 
less  than  three-fourths  of  the  whole  number  of  Councillors,  remove  from 
office with effect from such date as may be specified in the order of removal 
of any Councillor elected under this Act, if it is satisfied that such Councillor 
has  been  guilty  of  misconduct  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  or  of  any 
disgraceful  conduct  or  has  become  incapable  of  performing  his  duties  as 
Councillor : 
  Provided  that,  no  recommendation  shall  be  made  by  the  Corporation 
under this section unless the Councillor to whom it relates has been given a 
reasonable opportunity of showing cause why such recommendation should 
not be made. 
  (2)  A person who has been removed from office under sub-section 
(1)  shall  be  disqualified  for  being  elected  and  for  being  a  Councillor  for  a 
period  of  five  years  from  the  date  of  his  removal,  unless  the  State 
  24
Government  relieves  him  of  the  disqualification  by  an  order  which  it  is 
hereby empowered to make. 
 
Election of Councillors 
 
14.  State Election Commission : (1) The superintendence, direction and 
control  of  the  preparation  of  electoral  rolls  for,  and  the  conduct  of,  all 
elections to the Corporation shall vest in the State Election Commissioner. 
  (2)  The  State  Election  Commissioner  may,  by  order,  delegate  any 
of his powers and functions to any officer of the State Election Commission 
or  any  officer  of  the  State  Government  not  below  the  rank  of  Deputy 
Collector  or  to  any  officer  of  the  Corporation  not  below  the  rank  of  the 
Assistant Municipal Commissioner. 
  (3)  All officers and members of the staff appointed or deployed for 
preparation  of  electoral  rolls  and  conduct  of  election  of  the  Corporation 
under  this  Act  or  the  rules  shall  function  under  the  superintendence, 
direction and control of the State Election Commissioner. 
  (4)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Act  and  the  rules, 
the State Election Commissioner may issue such special or general orders or 
directions which may not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Act and 
the rules for fair and free elections. 
 
14A.  Power  of  State  Election  Commissioner  to  issue  directions  to 
prevent  impersonation  :  The  State  Election  Commissioner  may,  with  a 
view to prevent impersonation of electors at the time of election, issue such 
directions, as he thinks fit to the Presiding Officers and such directions may 
include instructing the electors to produce, at the time of polling, the photo 
identity  cards  issued  to  them  under  the provisions of  the  Representation  of 
the People Act, 1951. 
 
15.  Casual  vacancies  how  to  be  filled  :-  (1)  In  the  event  of  non-
acceptance of office by a person elected to be a Councillor, or of the death, 
resignation,  disqualification  or  removal  of  a  Councillor  during  his  term  of 
office, there shall be deemed to be a casual vacancy in the office, and such 
vacancy shall be filled as soon as conveniently may be, by the election of a 
person thereto, who shall hold office so long only as the Councillor in whose 
place he is elected would have been entitled to hold it if the vacancy had not 
occurred: 
  25
  Provided  that,  no  election  shall  be  held  for  the  filling  of  a  casual 
vacancy  if  general  elections  are  due  to  be  held  within  six  months  of  the 
occurrence of the vacancy. 
  (2)  The provisions of section 18 shall apply to an election held for 
the filling of a casual vacancy. 
 
16.  Election petitions : (1) If the qualification of any persons declared to 
be  elected  a  Councillor    is  disputed,  or  if  the  validity  of  any  election  is 
questioned,  whether  by  reason  of  the  improper  rejection  by  the  State 
Election  Commissioner  of  a  nomination,  or  of  the  improper  reception  or 
refusal  of  a  vote,  or  by  reason  of  a  material  irregularity  in  the  election 
proceedings  corrupt  practice,  or  any  other  thing  materially  affecting  the 
result of the election, any person enrolled in the municipal election roll may 
at any time within ten days after the result of the election has been declared, 
submit  an  application  to  the  Judge  for  the  determination  of  the  dispute  or 
question. 
  (2)  The  State  Election  Commissioner  may,  if  it  has  reason  to 
believe  that  an  election  has  not  been  a  free  election  by  reason  of  the  large 
number of cases in which undue influence or bribery has been exercised or 
committed  by  order  in  writing,  authorise  any  officer  of  the  Commission  to 
make  an  application  to  the  Judge  at  any  time  within  one  month  after  the 
result of the election has been declared for a declaration that the election of 
the returned candidate or candidates is void.  
  (2A)  No  election  to  any  Corporation  shall  be  called  in  question 
except  by  an  election  petition  presented  to  the  Judge  referred  to  in  sub-
section (1) and no Judge other than the Judge referred to in sub-section (1) 
shall entertain any dispute in respect of such election.  
  (3)  The Judge shall decide the applications made under sub-section 
(1)  or  (2)  after  holding  an  inquiry  in  the  manner  provided  by  or  under  this 
Act. 
  Explanations.- For the purposes of this section  
  (1)  Corrupt  practice  means  one  of  the  following  practices, 
namely: - 
(a)  any gift, offer or promise by a candidate or his agent or by any 
person  with  the  connivance  of  a  candidate  or  his  agent  of  any 
gratification,  pecuniary  or  otherwise,  to  any  person 
whomsoever, with the object, directly or indirectly of inducing 
a person to stand or not to stand as, or to withdraw from being a 
candidate at an election or a voter to vote or refrain from voting 
at an election or as a reward to a person for having so stood or 
  26
not stood or for having withdrawn his candidature or a voter for 
having voted or refrained from voting; 
(b)  any direct or indirect interference or attempt to interfere on the 
part of a candidate or his agent or of any other person with the 
connivance of the candidate or his agent with the free exercise 
of  any  electoral  right,  including  the  use  of  threats  of  injury  of 
any  kind  or  the  creation  or  attempt  to  create  fear  of  divine 
displeasure or spiritual censure, but not including a declaration 
of  public  policy  or  a  promise  of  public  action  or  the  mere 
exercise of a legal right without intent to interfere with a legal 
right; 
(c)  the  procuring  or  abetting  or  attempting  to  procure  by  a 
candidate  or  his  agent  or  by  any  other  person  with  the 
connivance  of  a  candidate  or  his  agent,  the  application  by  a 
person  for  a  voting  paper  in  the  name  of  any  other  person 
whether living or dead or in a fictitious name or by a person for 
a voting paper in his own name when, by reason of the fact that 
he has already voted in the same or some other ward, he is not 
entitled to vote; 
(d)  the  removal  of  a  voting  paper  from  the  polling  station  during 
polling hours by any person with the connivance of a candidate 
or his agent; 
(e)  the  publication  by  a  candidate  or  his  agent  or  by  any  other 
person with the connivance of the candidate or his agent of any 
statement of fact which is false, and which he either believes to 
be false or does not believe to be true, in relation to the personal 
character  or  conduct  of  any  candidate,  being  a  statement 
reasonably  calculated  to  prejudice  the  prospects  of  that 
candidates election; 
(f)  any acts specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (d) and (e) when doen 
by  a  person  who  is  not  a  candidate  or  his  agent  or  a  person 
acting with the connivance of a candidate or his agent; 
(g)  the application by a person at an election for a voting paper in 
the  name  of  any  other  person,  whether  living  or  dead,  or  in  a 
fictitious name, or for a voting paper in his own name when, by 
reason  of  the  fact  that  he  has  already  voted  in  the  same  or 
another ward, he is not entitled to vote; or 
(h)  the  receipt  of,  or  agreement  to  receive,  any  gratification of the 
kind described in paragraph (a) as a motive or reward for doing 
or refraining from doing any of the acts therein specified; 
  27
 
(2)  a corrupt practice shall not be deemed to have been committed 
in the interests of a returned candidate if the Judge is satisfied that it was of a 
trivial  and  limited  character  which  did  not  affect  the  result  of  the  election, 
that  in  all  other  respects  the  election was free from any corrupt practice on 
the part of the candidate or any of his agents, that it was committed without 
the  sanction or connivance or contrary to the orders of the candidate or his 
agents,  and  that  the  candidate  and  his  agents  took all reasonable means for 
preventing the commission of corrupt practices at the election.  
 
17.  [Disqualification  of  voters  for  corrupt  practice.]  Deleted  by  Mah.  34 
of 1965, s.7. 
 
18.  Procedure  if  election  fails  or  is  set  aside  :-  (1)  If  at  any  general 
elections or an election held to fill a casual vacancy, no Councillor is elected 
or an insufficient number of Councillors are elected or the election of any or 
all  of  the  Councillors  is  set  aside  under  this  Act  and  there  is  no  other 
candidate  or  candidates  who  can  be  deemed  to  be  elected  in  his  or  their 
place, the State Election Commissioner shall appoint another day for holding 
a fresh election and a fresh election shall be held accordingly. 
  (2)  A Councillor elected under this section shall be deemed to have 
been elected to fill a casual vacancy under section 15. 
 
19.  Mayor  and  Deputy  Mayor.-  (1)  The  Corporation  shall  subject  to  the 
provisions of sub-section (1A), at its first meeting after the general elections 
elect  from amongst the Councillors one of its number to be the Mayor and 
another  to be  the  Deputy  Mayor.    The  tenure  of  the Mayor and the Deputy 
Mayor shall be of two and a half years : 
  Provided  that,  the  term  of  the  Mayors  and  the  Deputy  Mayors  in 
office  on  the  date  of  coming  into  force  of  the  Maharashtra  Municipal 
Corporations (Amendment) Act, 2000, shall be regulated as unders,- 
(a)  in case of the Corporations which have completed the first year 
of  their  term  but  have  not  yet  completed  two  years  since  their 
first meeting after the general elections, the term of the Mayors 
and  Deputy  Mayors  of  such  Corporations  shall  be  two  years 
each; 
(b)  in  all  other  cases,  the  term  of  the  Mayors  and  Deputy  Mayors 
who are in office on the said date shall be extended to be and, 
comterinous with the term of office of the elected Councillors; 
  28
Provided  further  that  the  roaster  relating  to  the  reservation  of 
the  office  of  the  Mayor  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  amended  to 
provide for the extended tenure of the Mayor. 
(1A)  There shall be reservation for the office of the Mayor in 
the Corporation, by rotation, for the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled 
Tribes,  women and the Backward Class of citizens, in the prescribed 
manner. 
(2)  The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor shall hold office until 
a new Mayor and a new Deputy Mayor have been elected under sub-
section  (1)  and,  in  a  year  in  which  general  elections  have been  held, 
shall  do  so  notwithstanding  that  they  have  not  been  returned  as 
Councillors on the results of the elections.  
(3)  A  retiring  Mayor  or  Deputy  Mayor  shall  be  eligible  for 
re-election to either office. 
(4)  The  Deputy  Mayor  may  resign  his  office  at  any  time by 
notice in writing to the Mayor and the Mayor may resign his office at 
any time by notice in writing to the Corporation. 
(5)  If  any  casual  vacancy  occurs  in  the  office  of  Mayor  or 
Deputy Mayor, the Corporation shall, as soon as convenient after the 
occurrence of the vacancy choose one of its number to fill the vacancy 
and every Mayor or Deputy Mayor so elected shall hold office so long 
only  as  the  person  in  whose  place  he  is  appointed  would  have  been 
entitled to hold it if the vacancy had not occurred.   
The  term  of  the  office  of  the  Mayor  and  Deputy  Mayor  of  the 
Corporation has been extended from one year to two and half years, to 
enable  the  Mayor  and  Dy.  Mayor  to  undertake  and  implement  the 
important projects and also to enable them to take effective measures 
in  the  interests  to  better  working  of  the  Corporations    Statement  of 
objects and Reasons, Mah. 25 of 2000.  
CHAPTER IX 
THE MUNICIPAL FUND AND OTHER FUNDS 
The Municipal Fund 
 
88.  Purposes for which Municipal Fund is to be applied : 
  The  moneys  from  time  to  time,  credited  to  the  Municipal  Fund  shall 
be applied in payment of all sums, charges and costs necessary for carrying 
this  Act  into  effect,  or  of  which  the  payment  shall  be  duly  directed  or 
sanctioned under any of the provisions of this Act or of any other law for the 
time being in force inclusive of  the expenses of every ward election.