LG order clarifies how govt in Delhi will function

NEW DELHI: A day after the Centre notified the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, which changes the functioning of the government in the capital, the lieutenant governor issued an order on Wednesday that clarifies how the government in Delhi will function from now on.
The order, signed by the principal secretary to the lieutenant governor, Bhupinder S Bhalla, in the name of the LG and in exercise of the powers conferred by the Act, specifies the matters for obtaining the LG’s opinion before taking any executive action in pursuance of a decision of the council of ministers or a minister to exercise powers of government.
The order covers matters falling under any law, made by Parliament or extended to the National Capital Territory of Delhi by the central government, with respect to any subject under the State or the Concurrent list of Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
It includes matters falling under any law made by the Delhi assembly that has direct or indirect effect on any of the subjects on which the lieutenant governor is to act in his discretion like those related to police, public order, land and services. The order also pertains to making of subordinate legislations i.e. rules, regulations, schemes, bylaws; establishment, constitution or re-constitution of statutory bodies such as authority, board, committee, commission; matters relating to recommendations of Delhi Finance Commission constituted under Delhi Finance Commission Act, 1994; grant of parole under Delhi Prisons Act, 2000; and matters specified under Rule 23 of Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules, 1993.
According to sources, the administrative decisions of the elected government of Delhi now may not be implemented as fast as earlier because the files will be sent to the LG for his nod and the decisions can be implemented only after his approval.
The amendment also seeks to ensure that the business in the assembly is conducted in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. This provision will put an end to any scope for criticising any leader or person who is not a member of the House. In the past, there have been several instances where names of top central government ministers were taken in the Delhi assembly.