Fresh Storm in Surat Municipal Corporation Over Finance Head’s Resignation

Surat | Gujarat — A fresh administrative and political storm has erupted inside the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) after the resignation of Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Finance) Swati Desai was accepted by the Municipal Commissioner but not placed before the Standing Committee even after nearly a week.

The delay has triggered sharp criticism from Opposition Leader Payal Sakaria, who has written a strongly worded letter demanding that the matter be included as an additional agenda item in the next Standing Committee meeting.

“The code of conduct may be announced at any time. This issue must be resolved immediately to ensure transparency,” Sakaria said in her letter, warning that any delay could raise questions about administrative intent.

According to Sakaria, Desai, as head of the finance department, played a key role in decisions related to fixing water tariffs for industries connected to the tertiary treatment plant and approving contractor bills allegedly without proper disposal of waste at the Khajod dumping site. “For a fair and impartial investigation, the finance portfolio was taken away from her and assigned to another officer. Yet, she has neither been transferred nor has clarity been provided on her resignation,” Sakaria alleged.

The opposition leader further accused Desai of “irresponsible and evasive functioning” that allegedly hampered the corporation’s development work. She has demanded a comprehensive and impartial probe into Desai’s working methods, financial decisions, and alleged irregularities.

Among the key demands raised are:

Investigation into alleged tampering with educational qualifications and illegal acquisition of posts.

Scrutiny of income, assets and financial dealings.

Disciplinary action under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporations Act 1949 (GPMC Act 1949), including recovery of damages and filing of criminal charges if wrongdoing is established.

Immediate relief from duty if found guilty.

“This matter must be placed before the Standing Committee without further delay. A decision should be taken in the interest of accountability and public trust,” Sakaria stated.

The development has intensified pressure on the Municipal Commissioner, with political observers noting that the issue has once again exposed fault lines within the civic body’s financial administration. Questions are being raised about procedural transparency and whether administrative safeguards are being followed.

Civic activists argue that financial governance in a rapidly expanding city like Surat requires uncompromising accountability. “When it comes to public money and infrastructure decisions, there can be no grey areas,” said a senior civic analyst.