Rajya Sabha clears Delhi services Bill, backed by 131 MPs

CategoryPolity

Last Updated09/08/2023

Recently, the Rajya Sabha passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill in New Delhi.
According to the Centre, the Bill is for the “maintenance of democratic and administrative balance in the governance” of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

It establishes the National Capital Civil Services Authority(NCCSA).
- It consists of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Principal Home Secretary of Delhi.
- It will make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor(LG) regarding transfers and postings of officials and disciplinary matters.
It empowers the LG to exercise his sole discretion on several matters including
- those recommended by the National Capital Civil Services Authority
- the summoning, prorogation and dissolution of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
It authorises the department secretaries to bring to the notice of the LG, the Chief Minister and the Chief Secretary any matter that may bring Delhi Government into controversy with the Central Government.

It centralises the power in the hands of the LG, diminishing the elected government’s authority.
It undermines the democratic mandate and interferes with local governance.
It might curtail the autonomy of the Delhi government in policy-making.
The discretionary power given to LG could lead to conflicts between the elected government and LG.