Now government in Delhi means Lieutenant Governor

When the bill was passed by Parliament, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had termed it a 'sad day for Indian democracy'

Amid the Centre and Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government facing a crisis over the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and scarcity of oxygen, the Centre has notified the new law that makes Lieutenant Governor the effective in-charge of the national capital.

The amendments to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act will now make the capital’s elected government seek the opinion of the L-G before any executive decision is made.

The notification was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and it came into effect from Tuesday, even as the capital is battling a fourth wave of Covid-19 with both the Centre and the AAP government facing criticism over its handling.

Read: DH Deciphers | Elected govt vs L-G: Why is the Centre bringing a new Bill on Delhi?

With this, L-G's primacy over the capital's administration has been sealed as the Delhi government will have to take L-G's permission before taking any action over subjects which were under its domain.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament last month, says that the "government" in Delhi now means the "Lieutenant Governor".

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier described the passage of the Bill as a "sad day for Indian democracy".

The Centre passing the new Bill had its genesis in the past, as both the AAP and the BJP have been at loggerheads ever since Arvind Kejriwal assumed power in the national capital, trouncing the latter. Accused of being perpetually confrontational, the AAP was in sharp disagreement with the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) and the Centre on issues of governance.