The Centre will on Tuesday introduce The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in Lok Sabha. The bill seeks to replace an ordinance that mandated the creation of an authority for transfers and postings of senior officers in the Delhi government. As per the revised list of business for Tuesday, the bill will be introduced by Union home minister Amit Shah while his deputy Nityanand Rai will make a statement on the reasons for bringing an "immediate legislation" by promulgating the ordinance.
The ordinance has been taken up as an issue by the Opposition parties against Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government.
According to The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, all transfers and postings of senior officers in the Delhi government will be done by a three-member committee headed by the Delhi chief minister.
The ordinance was brought by the Centre a week after the Supreme Court gave a ruling in favour of the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation, handing over the control of services in Delhi, excluding police, public order and land, to the elected government headed by Chief Minister.
The ordinance has been vehemently opposed by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party which organised a massive protest in the national capital and met the Delhi CM Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann met with Chief Ministers of non-BJP ruled states and leaders of Opposition parties to seek their support on the floor of the House.
"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," AAP chief spokesperson and Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said.