Raj govt dismisses mayor Somya Gurjar; bars her from contesting elections for 6 years

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has dismissed Somya Gurjar – BJP mayor of JMC – Greater after getting a green signal regarding this from the Supreme Court. The government also barred her from contesting the elections for six years.

The apex court recently lifted the stay on the suspension of Gurjar after receiving the judicial enquiry report that found her guilty of misconduct. The court lifted the stay on September 23, allowing the government to dismiss her after two days.

The local self-government department on Tuesday issued the order, dismissing the mayor from the post and disqualifying her from contesting elections for the next 6 years.

The only legal remedy left for Soumya Gurjar now is to move to the High Court against the report of the judicial inquiry that found her guilty of misconduct.

On June 4, 2021, a dispute took place in a meeting between Soumya Gurjar and the then JMC commissioner Yagyamitra Singh Deo and other councillors. The commissioner started leaving the meeting midway. During this, the councillors stopped him at the gate, after which the dispute escalated. The commissioner complained in writing to the government, accusing the three councillors of assault and lodged a case at Jyoti Nagar police station.

On June 5, the government intervened in the matter and handed over the investigation of the complaint received against Soumya Gurjar and councillors Paras Jain, Ajay Singh, Shankar Sharma to the Regional Director of the local self-government department.

On June 6, the government suspended all (the mayor and three councillors) from the post and also set up a judicial inquiry against all of them. On 7 June, the state government appointed Sheel Dhabai as caretaker mayor.

Mayor Soumya Gurjar challenged the decision of the government’s suspension in the High Court, but on June 28, the High Court refused to grant a stay on the suspension order.