Centre Approves Bill To Replace Delhi Ordinance On Control Of Officers, To Be Tabled In Parliament Soon

The bill will be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament soon, according to the news agency.

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a bill seeking to replace the ordinance on the control over services in the national capital, reported PTI. The bill will be introduced in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament soon, the sources told the news agency.

According to the agency, the decision came after the legislation was approved by a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening. 

The Centre's ordinance was issued on May 19, a week after a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

An ordinance is promulgated by the President on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet when the Parliament is not in session. It is mandatory for the Parliament to adopt a law to replace the ordinance within six weeks of the commencement of the next session.

The ordinance facilitated the setting up of a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.

Before the May 11 verdict, the transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party had reacted strongly against the ordinance saying the Centre had "deceived" the people of Delhi.

Kejriwal, along with party-ruled Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had visited most of the non-NDA-ruled states and met opposition leaders seeking their support against the legislation.

Several opposition parties, including Congress, have also come out against the ordinance.

AAP chief spokesperson and Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said, "This is a deception committed with the Supreme Court and the people of Delhi who have chosen Kejriwal thrice as the chief minister."

"He doesn't have any powers but the LG, who has not even been chosen but forced upon people, will have powers and through him, the Centre will keep tabs on the work happening in Delhi. This is contempt of court," he had added.