Controversy over Delhi ‘aldermen’: What does the term mean?

Subject: Polity

Context:

Delhi’s Lt. Governor, VK Saxena, nominated 10 aldermen amidst significant controversy. The 10 nominees, all BJP members, are expected to play a crucial role in determining who controls the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Meaning of the term Alderman:

“Alderman” refers to a member of a city council or municipal body, with exact responsibilities depending on the location of its usage. It is derived from Old English.
Originally referred to elders of a clan or tribe, though soon it became a term for king’s viceroys, regardless of age. Soon, it denoted a more specific title – “chief magistrate of a county,” having both civic and military duties.

Different meaning in different country:

Under the Municipal Reform Act 1835, municipal borough corporations consisted of councilors and aldermen. Aldermen would be elected not by the electorate, but by the council (including the outgoing aldermen), for a term of six years, which allowed a party that narrowly lost an election to retain control by choosing aldermen.
The Local Government Act of 1972 finally abolished Aldermen with voting rights, with effect from 1974, except in the Greater London Council and the London borough councils, where they remained a possibility until 1978.
In the US, depending upon the jurisdiction, an alderman could have been part of the legislative or judicial local government. A “board of aldermen” is the governing executive or legislative body of many cities and towns in the United States.
In Canada, the term “alderman” was used for those persons elected to a municipal council to represent the wards.
Australia and Ireland have also abolished the term and specific post of an alderman whereas, in South Africa, the term alderman refers to senior members of municipal councils.
In the Netherlands, the term refers to members of the municipal executive (rather than the council).

In India:

As per the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, ten people, over the age of 25 can be nominated to the corporation by the administrator (the Lieutenant Governor).
These people are expected to have special knowledge or experience in municipal administration.
They are meant to assist the house in taking decisions of public importance.

Importance of alderman:

Although they do not have the right to vote in the mayor polls, aldermen hold significant power and play an important role in the elections of Standing Committees, MCD in-house and ward committee meetings.
They are a part of a group which effectively controls the MCD’s purse strings.

The controversy in Delhi:

The current controversy regarding the appointment of 10 aldermen has two facets.

The first is with regards to the people nominated. After the recommendations were sent to the LG, two of the 10 nominees were found to be technically unfit for the job, forcing the BJP to retract their names to avoid embarrassment.
Second, the appointment of aldermen by the LG is seen by many as an attempt by the BJP to continue exercising power in the MCD, despite its election loss.