The Centre's grip on the Delhi government becomes more rigid

 

NEW DELHI: The legislation that repeals the capital's service control ordinance and overrides the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the elected state government strengthens the central government's control over Delhi's administration by giving the lieutenant governor more authority.

Despite the opposition labeling it "unconstitutional" as a whole, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was approved by the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The Supreme Court has already established a five-judge constitution bench to address the issue of whether Parliament can "abrogate the constitutional principles of governance" for the Delhi government by passing legislation that revokes its control over services, but the issue of control of services remains unresolved.

A significant change in city governance would result from the GNCTD Act's revision, which exempts services from Delhi Assembly's legislative purview. The new law will give the central government the authority to appoint the heads and members of various boards and commissions that are under the control of the Delhi government, through the LG and officers it appoints. The central government will also gain control over official transfers and postings, vigilance investigations, and disciplinary actions against them.

Department secretaries will now have the power to bring such matters or decisions under the purview of the elected state government and its ministers to the notice of the LG, the chief minister and the chief secretary that may bring Delhi government into direct conflict or controversy with the central or any state government or with a court.

Another official said, "This effectively means that the Centre will decide on the appointment of heads to various boards and commissions, such as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, and NCCSA will recommend candidates for organizations like the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights."

The controversial Section 3A of the ordinance, which restored Delhi's legislative assembly's power over services under Entry 41 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, was abolished by the law.

State public services and the state public service commission are discussed in this schedule.

The bill passed by Parliament also grants the LG the authority to call, prorogue, and dissolve the legislative assembly, among other things, and permits department secretaries to bring items before the LG, chief minister, and chief secretary without first meeting the relevant minister.

The LG will also have the "sole" discretion in matters that are outside the legislative competence of the Delhi Assembly and those where he is required by law to exercise any judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

One of the most contentious features of the ordinance is a part of the new legislation too, namely, the constitution of a three-member National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) with the CM as its chairman and the chief secretary of Delhi as a member and the principal home secretary as the member secretary.

The AAP government has frequently argued that government employees sent by the Centre through the LG frequently disobey orders from the elected administration. "The quorum for a meeting shall consist of two members and the decisions of NCCSA shall be based on a majority vote of the members present and voting. An official stated that the LG would have the ultimate say about the recommendations provided by NCCSA and that the federal government-appointed officials might override the CM's suggestion.