Central Govt Gains More Control Over Officials In Delhi, Data Protection Act Becomes Law

President Droupadi Murmu has given her consent to four bills that were approved during the monsoon session of Parliament. These bills comprise the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill.

Dealing a blow to both the Arvind Kejriwal government and opposition unity, the Rajya Sabha had earlier passed a bill pertaining to Delhi government officials, encompassing appointments and transfers. This bill grants more authority to the Central government over matters in the national capital.

During a voting division in the Upper House of Parliament, the ruling coalition secured the support of 131 members, while 102 MPs voted against the bill. This legislation seeks to establish an authority for the transfer and disciplinary proceedings concerning bureaucrats from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre.

The bill had already been passed on August 3 by the Lok Sabha, where the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds the majority.

The bill's passage in Parliament can be interpreted as the initial setback for the newly formed coalition of 26 opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Sharad Pawar's NCP. The opposition had aimed to defeat the bill in the Rajya Sabha, where the BJP-led NDA lacks a majority. However, parties such as YSCRP and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) came to the rescue of the ruling coalition.