The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2021, has come into force. Through this primacy to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) over the elected Government of the city will be given. This provision comes into effect from April 27, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Henceforth, the “government” in Delhi would mean the “Lieutenant Governor” according to the legislation. This also means that the city government will now have to compulsorily seek the opinion of the  Lieutenant Governor for any executive action. 

The lower house of the Parliament had passed the bill last month that is on March 22nd. Later on, the bill was also approved in the Rajya Sabha by March 24th. The Amendment was heavily criticised by the Aam Admi Party, the current elected party of  Delhi. Post the bill was passed, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had termed it a “sad day for Indian democracy”.

“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 April 2021 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force,” the notification signed by additional secretary in the MHA, Govind Mohan, said.

The centre said that the action was taken to establish structural clarity. However, the AAP said that it would take away power from the elected government of Delhi. 

This comes immediately after the Delhi High Court rebuked the Aam Aadmi Party government on the distribution of medical oxygen supply on Tuesday in Delhi. The court also stated the mismanagement and the mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic in the national Capital. 

The court also remarked that if the Delhi Government cannot handle the current situation,  it will ask the central government to send its officers and take over. The court also stated that the Delhi Government’s system failed. 

Delhi on Monday recorded 20,201 new coronavirus cases.