In a significant move to streamline the electoral process, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has launched a new single-window online system. This initiative is designed to expedite the issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for individuals aspiring to contest the upcoming municipal elections.
Simplifying the NOC Process for Aspiring Candidates
As per the election guidelines, every candidate must submit an NOC confirming they have no outstanding dues with the civic body before filing their nomination. These dues can include pending water or property tax bills, or any other liabilities owed to the Nashik Municipal Corporation. Previously, obtaining this certificate involved a tedious verification process across multiple departments, causing delays for candidates.
The new system aims to eliminate these bottlenecks. A senior civic official stated that the online single-window platform has been developed to simplify and accelerate the verification process, ensuring candidates receive their NOCs promptly. This is a crucial step, as the verification requires feedback from various NMC departments, including water supply, property tax, fire brigade, town planning, advertising, swimming pools, and auditoriums.
How the New Online System Works
The civic administration has outlined a clear, step-by-step procedure for candidates to follow. First, aspiring contestants must pay a nominal fee of Rs 600 at any of the six divisional offices of the municipal corporation. Following this payment, candidates can proceed to submit their details through a dedicated online form available on the official NMC portal.
Upon successful submission of the form, the system generates a unique application number. Candidates can use this reference number to track their application and, once cleared, to download their NOCs directly online. This end-to-end digital process is expected to save considerable time compared to the traditional, manual method.
Election Timeline and Past Context
The introduction of this system is timely, with the voting for the NMC poll scheduled for January 15. The counting of votes will take place the very next day, on January 16. The window for filing nominations is set between December 23 and December 29, making the efficient issuance of NOCs critical during this short period.
In the previous NMC election held in February 2017, the civic body had issued NOCs to more than 950 candidates who were contesting for 122 seats. The new online system is expected to handle a similar or greater number of applications with much-improved efficiency, ensuring a smoother electoral process for both the administration and the candidates.
This digital intervention by the Nashik Municipal Corporation marks a positive step towards leveraging technology for better governance and transparent electoral procedures.
