The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday said that the provisions of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 came into force on from Wednesday. “In exercise of the power conferred by subsection (2) of Section 1 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 (15 of 2021), the Central Government hereby appoint 27th day of April 2021 as the date on which the provision of the said act will come into force,” said a notification issued by the MHA.
The Act amended the National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991.
The amended Act enhances the powers of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor over the elected government of the GNCTD and entails that the term “government” referred to in any law made by the Delhi Legislative Assembly will imply the Lieutenant Governor, currently Anil Baijal.
The Act has invited controversy as following its enactment, it would now be mandatory for the Delhi government to consult the LG before taking any executive decisions in the city. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will not be allowed to make any rules to enable his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government or its committees to consider matters pertaining to the day-to-day administration of the national capital or conduct inquiries related to administrative actions.
The Act also states that the Delhi Assembly will not be able to make rules for regulating its procedure and the conduct of its business that are inconsistent with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Parliament of India.
President Ram Nath Kovind on 28 March had granted assent to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Parliament had passed the bill on 24 March, amid a walkout by the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Senior AAP leaders, including deputy CM Manish Sisodia, had termed the Act “unconstitutional” and “anti-democracy”. The party also held a protest against the Bill on 17 March.