New Delhi: Government of India has published a gazette notification on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, as having received the Presidential Assent on Aug. 11, 2023.
The Delhi services bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, with 131 MPs voting in its favour and helping the government complete the parliamentary procedure for the proposed legislation that saw the opposition parties join ranks.
The Home Minister, who replied to a six-hour emotionally charged debate in the House, claimed that the legislation will stop the Delhi's ruling AAP of transferring officials connected to the probe into the Rs 2,000-crore liquor "scam". The government's hand was forced to bringing an ordinance only to stop stop the Delhi government.
The Minister claimed that the Bill in its present form does not violate the Supreme Court judgement in any manner and it only seeks to provide efficient and corruption-free governance and protect rights of citizens of the national capital.
It maybe recalled the Supreme Court on May 11 ruled that the elected government of Delhi has control over services in the national capital, excluding the matters relating to public order, police and land.
Eight days later, the Centre promulgated the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 to create an authority for the transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, where the elected government's head, in this case Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will be a minority.
