Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021

Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – II – Polity; Centre-State Relations 

In news

• The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette notification stating that the provisions of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021, would be deemed to have come into effect from April 27.

Key takeaways 

• The Bill amends the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi Act, 1991.
• It provides a framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly (LA) and the government of the NCT of Delhi.
• It amends certain powers and responsibilities of the LA and the Lieutenant Governor (LG).
• It provides that the term “government” referred to in any law made by the LA will imply LG.
• It allows the Legislative Assembly to make Rules to regulate the procedure and conduct of business in the Assembly. 
• It provides that such Rules must be consistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.

Do you know? 

• It prohibits the LA from making any rule to enable itself or its Committees to:
  • consider the matters of day-to-day administration of the NCT of Delhi and
  • conduct any inquiry in relation to administrative decisions.
• Assent to Bills:
  • The Act requires the LG to reserve certain Bills passed by the LA for the consideration of the President.
  • It requires the LG to also reserve those Bills for the President which incidentally cover any of the matters outside the purview of the powers of the Legislative Assembly.
• LG’s opinion for executive actions:
  • The Act specifies that all executive action by the government, whether taken on the advice of the Ministers or otherwise, must be taken in the name of the LG.
  • The Bill adds that on certain matters, as specified by the LG, his opinion must be obtained before taking any executive action on the decisions of the Minister/ Council of Ministers.