Summary:
VADODARA: Former town planner of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has won a 15-year-old legal battle challenging his ouster from the civic body. In November 2004, the VMC administration wanted to extend his services on probation till December 31, 2004, with retrospective effect from January 18, 2004. The town planner Gopaldas Shah had pleaded that his services were discontinued as his decision to deduct land in a proposed town planning scheme had not gone down well with politicians.Shah had been appointed as the town planner on January 18, 2003 after a selection process and had joined duty on the very next day. Shah has pleaded that his probation period ended on January 17, 2004, after which he was appointed on the post in an officiating capacity. Shah has claimed in his petition that Patel and corporators of the VMC were responsible for his ouster.Despite the administration recommending his extension, the general board meeting held on December 30, 2004, discontinued Shah’s services..