Amid Deadlock, Delhi Minister Atishi Gives Green Light To Services Authority Meeting

The National Capital Civil Services Authority has not met since the introduction of the Delhi Services Bill in Parliament. The bill was passed in both the Houses.

Amid a deadlock over the meeting of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA), which recommends transfers and appointments of IAS officers, Delhi Services Minister Atishi said it would start soon. 

The NCCSA meeting has not been since the introduction of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill in Parliament. The bill was passed in both the Houses and received the President's assent last week.

In her order, Atishi said the authority's meeting would continue until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on the AAP's petition challenging the legislation. A five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court will hear the plea.

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Atishi said the government would create a system on when and how the meeting of the Services Authority should be held and how the departments should coordinate with the authority.

The GNCTD (Amendment) Act, which replaced an ordinance brought by the Centre, establishes a National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) consisting of the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of Delhi government.

They will be responsible for recommending transfers and appointments concerning officers of the Delhi government to the Lieutenant Governor. The LG will be the sole authority to decide in case of differences.

The legislation, which has been a bone of contention between the AAP and the BJP-led Centre, reverses the effect of the Supreme Court verdict in May that gave the Delhi government power over administrative services.

In his Independence Day address on Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the legislation had "snatched powers" of the elected government of Delhi and the AAP dispensation would restore them.

Meanwhile, a two-day Delhi assembly session began on Wednesday and is likely to see stormy scenes between the AAP and BJP over the services legislation as well as suspension of AAP Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha and Sanjay Singh in Parliament.