Centre Clears Bill To Replace Delhi Ordinance On Control Of Officers

The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a bill that will replace the ordinance promulgated for the creation of an authority for transfers and postings of Group-A officers in Delhi.

The Centre is expected to introduce the bill in the Parliament soon. The legislation was approved by a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening, PTI reported citing sources.

The President issues an ordinance on the Union Cabinet's recommendation when Parliament is not in session. Within six weeks of the next session's commencement, it is obligatory for the Parliament to pass a law to replace the ordinance.

The controversial Delhi ordinance was promulgated by the central government on May 19, a week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The ordinance facilitated the setting up of a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the lieutenant governor before the May 11 top court verdict. Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party had reacted strongly against the ordinance saying the Centre had "deceived" the people of Delhi.

The Congress and several other opposition parties have also come out against the ordinance. Kejriwal, along with party-ruled Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had visited most of the non-NDA-ruled states and met opposition leaders seeking their support against the legislation.

"This is a deception committed with the Supreme Court and the people of Delhi who have chosen Kejriwal thrice as the chief minister. "He doesn't have any powers but the LG, who has not even been chosen but forced upon people, will have powers and through him, the Centre will keep tabs on the work happening in Delhi. This is contempt of court," AAP chief spokesperson and Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had said.

However, the AAP is fighting tooth and nail against the bill and has garnered support from the anti-BJP parties that include Congress.

Despite opposition from several parties, the BJP is expected to pass the bill in the Parliament as it has the numbers.