Lok Sabha passes NCT Amendment Bill to enhance powers of Delhi L-G
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New Delhi, March 23: Giving a major setback to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led government, Lok Sabha passed the contentious Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill.
The bill gives more power to the lieutenant governor and will restrict the powers of the elected government in Delhi. The bill makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor before any executive action.
Initiating the debate on the bill in Lok Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said the bill has become necessary as there has been ambiguity in certain issues related to the functioning of the Delhi government, and several cases were also filed in courts. "Please do not say that it is a political bill. It is being brought to end ambiguity in certain issues as Delhi is a Union Territory. It will end certain confusion or technicality and enhance the efficiency of the administration," he said.
The minister said when the GNCTD Act was enacted in 1991 by the then Congress government, Delhi was made a Union Territory (UT) with an assembly with "limited legislative powers". "We did not do that. It was a Congress government which piloted the Act then," he said.
The Bill curbs the Delhi Assembly's power to conduct its proceedings as per the rules of procedure made by it. It provides that the Rules made by the Delhi Legislative Assembly to regulate the procedure and conduct of business in the Assembly must be consistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
The Bill also prohibits the Legislative Assembly from making any rule to enable itself or its Committees to (i) consider the matters of the day-to-day administration of the NCT of Delhi and (ii) conduct an inquiry in relation to administrative decisions. Further, any provision in force having the above-said effect will be void.
The goverment has now tabled the bill in Rajya Sabha.
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