The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which seeks to replace the Delhi services ordinance, has been included in the list of business for the lower house for Thursday. Though it was mentioned in list of business of the Lok Sabha for Wednesday, it could not be taken up due to ruckus in Lok Sabha .
The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Tuesday.
Opposition MPs, including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Saugata Roy, N K Premachandran, Sushil Kumar Rinku and Asaduddin Owaisi, are likely to move a resolution against the ordinance when it is taken up for consideration, reported ANI.
The proposed legislation will reverse the effect of a Supreme Court verdict that gave the elected government of Delhi power over administrative services in the national capital. It will also hand over to the lieutenant governor the final say on the transfer and posting of officials of the Delhi government, thereby strengthening the Centre's control over Delhi.
Meanwhile, the BJP has issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha members. The bill is also on the agenda of Rajya Sabha this week. The AAP, which has rallied against the bill, has express confidence that it won't survive in the Rajya Sabha.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday has said that all members of the opposition bloc INDIA will oppose the proposed legislation in the Upper House. He added that the bill was "anti-constitutional" and against the federal structure and democracy.
"When this bill comes in Rajya Sabha, all members of the INDIA bloc will oppose it. The battle is also underway in the Supreme Court. This bill will definitely not survive and will have to go away," the AAP MP said.
Other bills that will be tabled in Lok Sabha include the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023, Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023, respectively in the Lok Sabha.
In Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal is to move the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur will move the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023.
