Amid Covid-19 Surge: Centre Notifies NCT Delhi Amendment Act 2021, Gives Greater Powers To Lieutenant Governor

The Centre notified the amended Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 on Tuesday (27 April).

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021 (15 of 2021), the Central Government hereby appoints the 27th day of April, 2021, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the ministry of home affairs said in a notification.

Following the enactment of the amended GNCT Act, it is now mandatory for the Delhi government to take the opinion of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) before taking any executive action in the city, reports Hindustan Times.

The new law seeks to end ambiguity on certain matters of importance in ‘The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991’. It was passed by the government in the Lok Sabha on 22 March and in the Rajya Sabha on 24 March.

The act gives greater powers to the LG to a certain extent while ensuring more accountability of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

It redefines Government as the LG for Delhi and it would apply to any law made by the Legislature in Delhi.

According to experts, while political clashes are expected between the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal and the Centre, the amendments notified will enable a better relationship between the state and the centre while elevating the role of the governor with provisions consistent with the act of 1991.