566. Power to institute etc. legal proceedings and obtain legal advice.
- The Chief Officer of a Municipality may, -(a)take, or withdraw form, proceedings against any person, who is charged with, -(i)any offence under this Act or any rules or regulations made thereunder; or(ii)any offence which affects or is likely to affect any property or interest of the Municipality or the due administration of this Act; or(iii)committing any nuisance whatsoever;(b)contest or compromise any appeal against assessment of any tax or rate;(c)take, or withdraw from or compromise, proceedings under section 551 and section 552 for the recovery of expenses or compensation claimed to be due to the Municipality;(d)withdraw or compromise any claim for a sum not exceeding one thousand rupees against any person;(e)defend any suit or other legal proceeding brought against the Municipality or against any municipal authority or any officer or employee of the Municipality in respect or anything done or omitted to be done by the Municipality or such authority or officer or employee under this Act or the rules or the regulations made thereunder in the official capacity;(f)with the approval of the Standing Committee or where there is no Standing Committee, with the approval of the Municipality, compromise any claim, suit or other legal proceedings brought against the Municipality or any municipal authority or any officer or employee of the Municipality in respect of anything done or omitted to be done as aforesaid;(g)withdraw form or compromise any claim against any person in respect of a penalty payable under any contract entered into with such person by the Chief Officer on behalf of the Municipality;(h)institute or prosecute any suit or other legal proceedings or with the approval of the Standing Committee or where there is no Standing Committee, with the approval of the Municipality, withdraw from or compromise any suit or claim, other than a claim referred to in clause (d), instituted or made, as the case may be, in the name of the Municipality or the Chief Officer; and(i)obtain, for any of the purposes mentioned in the foregoing clauses of this section or for securing lawful exercise or discharge of any power or duty vesting in or imposed upon any municipal authority or any officer or employee of the Municipality, such legal advice and assistance, as he may, from time to time, consider necessary or expedient, or be required by the Municipality or Standing Committee, to obtain.
