The Parliament has passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (hereinafter the ‘Bill’). The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on March 15, 2021 and it was passed by Rajya Sabha on March 22, 2021.
The Bill seeks to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 (hereinafter the ‘Act’), which provides framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and the Delhi Government.
Key amendments are:
- The Bill provides that the term “Government” referred to in any law made by the Legislative Assembly will imply Lieutenant Governor (LG). The powers of the LG has been enhanced under the Bill.
- The Act allows the Legislative Assembly to make Rules to regulate the procedure and conduct of business in the Assembly. The Bill provides that such Rules must be consistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
- The Act provides the LG to reserve certain Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly for the consideration of the President. These Bills are those which may diminish the powers of the High Court of Delhi or which the President may direct to be reserved, or dealing with the salaries and allowances of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and members of the Assembly and the Ministers, or (iv) relating to official languages of the Assembly or the NCT of Delhi. The Bill requires the LG to also reserve those Bills for the President which incidentally cover any of the matters outside the purview of the powers of the Legislative Assembly.
- The Bill also makes it mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor before any executive action.
*Tanvi Singh, Editorial Assistant has put this story together.