Karnataka HC Quashes Notice For No-Confidence Motion Against Town Panchayat President, Directs Her To Call Meeting By Nov 16

The petitioner was President of the Town Panchayat, Ameengada. Councillors submitted a representation dated 4 September 2026 seeking a special general meeting to consider a no-confidence motion against her.

In an earlier petition concerning the same matter, the High Court remitted the matter to the Chief Officer to issue notice in accordance with the proviso to Section 42(9), read with Section 47(3), of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964.

The Chief Officer then issued a notice dated 9 October 2026 calling a meeting for 28 October 2026.

The petitioner challenged that notice, contending that it did not satisfy the 30-day requirement under Section 47(3).

Section 42(9) of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964 concerns a no-confidence motion against the President; Sections 47(2) and 47(3) govern the calling of a special meeting and the applicable notice procedure.

The Court referred to its earlier order directing that any notice be issued in strict compliance with the proviso to Section 42(9), read with Section 47(3).

The petitioner argued that the impugned notice failed to allow the 30 days required by Section 47(3), while respondents’ counsel asked that the petitioner convene the meeting on the basis of the 4 September representation.

The petitioner accepted that representation as one under Section 42(9) and agreed to call the meeting under Section 47(2), with clear 15 days’ notice. On that basis, the Court quashed the Chief Officer’s notice and directed the petitioner to convene the meeting. The Court did not separately decide the parties’ competing interpretation of the 30-day requirement.

The petitioner was directed to call a meeting under Section 47(2), giving clear 15 days’ notice, on or before 16 November 2026. The Court further directed that the petitioner could not thereafter raise a technical objection, having agreed to convene the meeting on that basis.