LS passes Delhi Services Bill; ‘Kejriwal govt not following rules’
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, August 3: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Delhi Services (Amendment) Bill after a thorough discussion followed by over half an hour reply by Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah. While the Bill seeks to replace the Ordinance brought by the Centre in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment that had called for the officials to report to the elected government in the city.
“We (the Bharatiya Janata Party) also had government in Delhi. You (the Congress) also had government in Delhi. But there was no need to bring the changes, because our governments were not sparring. But this (Arvind Kejriwal-led government) believes in quarrelling. This is why this Bill had to be brought before the House,” Shah said in his reply to the discussion.
The bill accords approval to a mechanism of a committee to look after the transfer and posting of the officials in the national capital. Countering the claims of the Bill being an assault to the federal structure, Shah argued that Delhi is not a state, as it’s a Unition Territory and that too of the national capital.
“Delhi government is not working as per the rules. Cabinet meeting has been called this year only twice to approve the Budget. Last year also the Delhi Cabinet meetings were called on thrice, and again they met for Budget only,” added Shah.
While arguing for the Bill, Shah quoted chairman of the drafting committee of the Constitution B. R. Ambedkar to say that even he had desired that Delhi should be within the jurisdiction of the Central government. Shah also asserted that the provisions of Article 239 B mandate Parliament to enact law for the administration of Delhi, as well as make the rules also.
The Rajya Sabha is likely to take up the bill for consideration and passage on Friday. Hitting out at the Kejriwal government in the national capital, Shah also said that Delhi Assembly session is never prorogued, and meetings are rarely held. “In 2021, only one session of Delhi Assembly was called for Budget. The same was the case in 2022. Again, the Assembly session was called only once in 2023 for Budget. Whenever the desire to abuse others, half-fay session is called,” added Shah.
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