Rajya Sabha passes Delhi Services Bill : The Rajya Sabha passed the Delhi Services Bill on August 7, 2023. The bill was passed by a voice vote after a brief debate. The bill gives the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi overriding powers over the transfer, posting, and control of officers in the capital territory. This is a significant change from the current status quo, where the Delhi government has some control over these matters.
The bill was opposed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which controls the Delhi government. The AAP argued that the bill would undermine the authority of the Delhi government and lead to a situation where the LG could effectively control the bureaucracy in Delhi. However, the bill was supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which controls the central government. The BJP argued that the bill was necessary to ensure that the Delhi government could not interfere in the functioning of the bureaucracy.
The passage of the Delhi Services Bill is a significant victory for the BJP and a setback for the AAP. It remains to be seen how the bill will be implemented in practice, but it is likely to have a significant impact on the governance of Delhi.
Delhi services bill gets support of 131 MPs in Rajya Sabha, 102 members oppose it.#DelhiServiceBill #DelhiNews #RajyaSabha https://t.co/4bgVUbnVli
— Ganga News (@ganganews) August 7, 2023
Here are some of the key provisions of the Delhi Services Bill:
The bill gives the Lieutenant Governor overriding powers over the transfer, posting, and control of officers in the capital territory.
The bill also gives the Lieutenant Governor the power to appoint and dismiss the Chief Secretary of Delhi.
The bill further empowers the Lieutenant Governor to make rules and regulations regarding the services in Delhi.
The bill also provides for the establishment of a Delhi Services Selection Board, which will be headed by the Lieutenant Governor.
The Delhi Services Bill has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the bill, arguing that it will ensure that the bureaucracy in Delhi is not politicized. Others have criticized the bill, arguing that it will undermine the authority of the Delhi government and lead to a situation where the LG can effectively control the bureaucracy.
It remains to be seen how the Delhi Services Bill will be implemented in practice. However, it is clear that the bill will have a significant impact on the governance of Delhi.