Parliament passes Delhi Services Bill with 131-102 vote in Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: Parliament has on August 7, 2023 passed a Bill to replace an Ordinance that took away the Delhi governments control over transfer and postings of its bureaucrats, with the Rajya Sabha clearing the legislation after a 131-102 vote following over eight hours long debate.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Bill in no way violates the Supreme Court judgement which was in favour of the Delhi government. It is aimed at an effective, corruption-free governance in the national capital, he said.

The voting saw the Opposition marshalling all its resources by bringing in ailing former prime minister Manmohan Singh, JMMs Shibu Soren and JD(U)s Bashisht Narain Singh, but it could gather only 102 votes against the governments 131.

There were heated moments when AAPs Raghav Chadha moved a motion to send the Bill to the Rajya Sabha Select Committee with the names of five members from BJP, BJD and AIADMK, who claimed they did not give permission to include their names.

AAPs Sanjay Singh could not vote as he is suspended from the House.

Replying to the debate on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Shah said, "When you fight the panchayat election and ask for powers of Parliament, it cannot be fulfilled constitutionally. When you fight the election of MLA or to claim the post of Chief Minister of Delhi, you have to know that it is not a State but a Union Territory. You can have any dream, but the dream can be fulfilled only based on which election you fight."

The Home Minister also said AAP wants to enjoy the powers of a full State and this is why the party was opposing the Bill. "We don't need power because the people of India have already blessed us with that. We have brought this amendment to prevent encroachment of power," he said.