Ripon Buildings Premises (Chennai Corporation) (Chennai)

India / Tamil Nadu / Madras / Chennai
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Chennai Corporation, also known as the Municipal Corporation of Chennai, is the civic body that governs the city of Chennai, India. It is about 320 years old and the oldest corporation India. It is headed by a mayor, who presides over 155 councillors each of whom represents one of the 155 wards of the city.

The corporation was inaugurated on September 29, 1688, when the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses took their oaths. The first representatives of the corporation were from diverse ethnicities. Nathaniel Higginson was the first Mayor and he appointed representatives from British, French, Portuguese, as well as Indian mercantile communities as Aldermen. The post of the Mayor was for one year and he was elected by the Aldermen. The tenure of the Aldermen was for life.

By 1856, the duties of the Corporation became more clearly defined. By 1919, the Aldermen were re-named as Councillors. The name 'Mayor' had been replaced by 'President'. P. Theagaraya Chetty was nominated as President, the first Indian to be nominated so. The office of Mayor was however re-created in 1933 and Kumararajah M.A. Muthiah Chettiar made the transition from last President to first new Mayor - and the mayoralty has remained thereafter.

In 1913, the Corporation moved to the newly constructed Ripon Building, which was built on parts of People's Park. The building was named after Lord Ripon who, as Viceroy (1880-84), had introduced local government reforms. He is remembered in a statue in the Corporation precincts.
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Coordinates:   13°4'55"N   80°16'17"E

Comments

  • Ripon building is the most popular building in chennai. Ripon building is named becuase the builder name is ripon. Politically party will take decision in this building
This article was last modified 12 years ago