Delhi, Now a Puppet of the Centre Under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 2021

New Delhi: Amidst the looming COVID conditions across the national capital, the Centre has issued a notice stating a law that purchases them authority over the elected Delhi government.  According to the amended law, the “Government of Delhi” now means the “Lieutenant Governor of Delhi”, who represents the Centre. 

The Home Ministry announced the implementation of The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 from 27 April. According to the Act, the Delhi government will now have to seek the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor before taking any executive action. 

Whilst the bill struggle to make it through in Parliament, Kejriwal expressed dismay after it was passed. The Centre, while bringing the Bill in the March session, claimed it would “further define” the responsibilities of the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor “in line with the constitutional scheme of governance… as interpreted by the Supreme Court.” 

 In 2018, a five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme Court had held that while the Lieutenant Governor must be informed about Delhi cabinet decisions, his concurrence was not needed except in the case of police, public order and land. The judges called the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, an administrator working with a designation of Lieutenant Governor.  They stated that the lieutenant governor is “bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers” and that “the Lieutenant Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power”. 

 Arvind Kejriwal won 62 of 70 seats in the 2020 Delhi election, leaving only 8 for the BJP. He accuses the BJP of trying to rule Delhi by proxy through the Lieutenant Governor and blocking the elected government’s plans.