The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• Introduce 15 march 2021 LS, 22 march 2021 passed from LS , 24 march 2021 passed from RS
• The Bill amends the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
• The Act provides a framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and the government of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.
• The Bill amends certain powers and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor.
• Restriction on laws passed by the Assembly:
• The Bill provides that the term “government” referred to in any law made by the Legislative Assembly will imply Lieutenant Governor (LG).
• Rules of Procedure of the Assembly:
• 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.
• Inquiry by the Assembly into administrative decisions:
• The Bill prohibits the Legislative Assembly from making any rule to enable itself or its Committees to:
• consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the NCT of Delhi and
• conduct any inquiry in relation to administrative decisions.
• Further, the Bill provides that all such rules made before its enactment will be void.
• Assent to Bills:
• The Act requires 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,
• which the President may direct to be reserved,
• dealing with the salaries and allowances of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and members of the Assembly and the Ministers, or
• 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.
• LG’s opinion for executive actions:
• The Act specifies that all executive action by the government, whether taken on the advice of the Ministers or otherwise, must be taken in the name of the LG.
• The Bill adds that on certain matters, as specified by the LG, his opinion must be obtained before taking any executive action on the decisions of the Minister/ Council of Ministers.
Rihan Mansuri