Ambala City Municipal Corporation Grapples with Legal Crisis Over Population Figures
The Ambala City Municipal Corporation (MC) is embroiled in a significant legal and administrative controversy as its officially recorded population has reportedly dropped below the statutory minimum required under Haryana state law. This development casts a shadow over the corporation's very existence and threatens to disrupt the upcoming municipal elections.
Population Shortfall Exposes Legal Vulnerability
According to data from the Haryana Urban Local Bodies Department, the current population of Ambala City MC stands at 2,57,765. This figure is a substantial 42,235 short of the legally mandated threshold of 3 lakh necessary for the establishment and continuation of a municipal corporation as per the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994. In a striking contrast, the population of Ambala Sadar Municipal Council is listed at 2,70,031, which is approximately 12,266 higher than that of the city's municipal corporation. Notably, municipal elections in Ambala Sadar were successfully conducted in March 2025.
Discrepancies in Official Data Raise Serious Concerns
High court advocate and municipal law expert Hemant Kumar, a resident of Sector 7 in Ambala City, has highlighted alarming inconsistencies in the official population records. He pointed out that a gazette notification dated September 4, 2025, recorded Ambala City MC's population as 2,71,068. However, data updated until October 23, 2025, shows a sharp decline of over 13,000 to 2,57,765. Kumar described this discrepancy as "serious and worthy of investigation," noting that the data originates from the state's Citizen Resources Information Department.
Kumar emphasized that under Section 3(2) proviso of the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, a minimum population of 3 lakh is mandatory. With the latest figures falling significantly below this limit, he warned that the legal existence of the Ambala Municipal Corporation itself could be called into question. This could potentially entangle the upcoming elections in prolonged litigation, undermining the democratic process.
Historical Context and Administrative Actions
The five-year term of the outgoing Ambala City MC house concluded on January 13, and from January 14, IAS officer Virender Lather, the Municipal Commissioner, has been administering the corporation as an administrator until the first meeting of the newly elected house is convened. Preparations for the next municipal elections were initiated by the Urban Local Bodies Department last year.
Key administrative steps included:
- A notification issued on September 4, 2025, redefining 20 wards for Ambala City MC.
- Reservations for women, Scheduled Castes, and Backward Classes were incorporated into the ward delimitation.
- The delimitation process was completed in the last week of December 2025.
- A follow-up notification on January 14 addressed ward-wise reservations.
- Subsequently, on January 22, the mayor's post was reserved for Backward Class-B (Woman) through a draw.
Kumar further noted that when the number of wards was fixed at 20 on July 29, 2020, Ambala City MC's population was officially shown as 3,03,850. He underlined that no urban area has been excluded from the MC limits in the past five years, making the sharp population decline even more puzzling and raising questions about data accuracy.
Calls for Urgent Action and Official Verification
Despite writing to multiple authorities, including the Governor of Haryana, Chief Minister, Urban Local Bodies Minister, senior departmental officials, Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Municipal Commissioner, and State Election Commissioner Devender Singh Kalyan, Hemant Kumar stated that no concrete action has been taken so far. He asserted that the top priority should be to officially ascertain and ensure that Ambala City MC's population meets the minimum 3 lakh requirement.
This verification is crucial to maintain the corporation's legal status and prevent the democratic electoral process from being jeopardized. The situation underscores the need for transparency and accuracy in official records to uphold governance standards and avoid legal entanglements that could delay essential civic functions.
