Delhi Government Now Means Lt. Governor As GNCTD Amendment Act Comes Into Force

The "Government of Delhi" now means the "Lieutenant Governor of Delhi", who represents the Centre.

Image Source (PTI)

New Delhi: The Central government now has more power over the elected government of Delhi after it notified a new law on Tuesday. This law was controversially passed in Parliament last month despite protests from the opposition in both houses.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, came into force yesterday, according to a Home Ministry notification.

What does it mean for Delhi government?

Delhi government will now have to seek the Lt. Governor's opinion before taking an excutive action. According to the amended law, the "Government of Delhi" now means the "Lieutenant Governor of Delhi", who represents the Centre. According to media reports, through this act Delhi government won’t be able to make rules for regulating, its procedure and the conduct of its business that are inconsistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Parliament of India.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2021 (15 of 2021), the Central Government hereby appoints the 27th April 2021 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the notification signed by additional secretary in the MHA, Govind Mohan, said.

The statement of objects of the Act states "that it seeks to ensure that the Lieutenant Governor is necessarily granted an opportunity to exercise the power entrusted to him under proviso to clause (4) of Article 239AA of the Constitution, in a select category of cases. It may be noted that Article 239AA deals with special provisions that are applicable to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and which would govern its functioning."

Kejriwal Reacts to the Act

When the Bill cleared Parliament, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called it a "sad day for Indian democracy". According to media reports, Kejriwal called the development an "insult" to the people of Delhi and said it "effectively takes away powers from those who were voted by people and gives powers to run Delhi to those who were defeated".