Monsoon Session, Day 10: Delhi Services Bill likely to produce new commotion in Lok Sabha today

On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha is likely to experience turbulent scenes as the members discuss the just-introduced Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Lower House will consider and vote on the bill on Wednesday. The bill, which was introduced by Union Minister for State for Home, Nityanand Rai, aims to replace the Centre’s Ordinance regarding the control of services in the national capital.

As the Parliament reconvenes on Wednesday, the impasse over the Manipur situation and the demand for a discussion and statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to continue. On Tuesday, the Bill was introduced amidst continued sloganeering from the opposition benches.

However, rejecting the contentions put forward by members in the Opposition, Home Minister Amit Shah, citing a Supreme Court ruling, said the Constitution has vested the Lower House with the power to table any law pertaining to Delhi for consideration and passage.
Further, invoking the Supreme Court judgement, the Home Minister said the Parliament could bring any law pertaining to Delhi and the protests by the Oppoisition were purely for political reasons.
The Bill empowers the Central Government to make rules in connection with the affairs of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi including the functions, terms and other conditions of service of officers and employees.

The Center published the Delhi Service Control Ordinance on May 19. Days after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was given control of the services in the nation’s capital thanks to the Ordinance. The BJP, meanwhile, has given its Lok Sabha members a three-line whip to be present for the entirety of the Lower House’s session on Wednesday.

The Bill is also scheduled to be discussed during this week’s Rajya Sabha business. Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, has been enlisting the assistance of other opposition parties to oppose the Ordinance, particularly in the Rajya Sabha where the Treasury benches do not have a majority.