Assembly amending rules to align with GNCTD Act: Gupta
New Delhi: Delhi assembly speaker
Vijender Gupta
on Monday said the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Vidhan Sabha are being amended in line with the Government of NCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, to bring them on par with the rules governing the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Gupta clarified that the amendment does not affect the routine functioning of the House or restrict assembly committees. The changes aim to remove ambiguities in rule interpretation. "The Privileges Committee and Petitions Committee can still summon officials and question them on complaints. They can scrutinise Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports but cannot summon officials for routine executive matters, which the previous govt often did," Gupta said.
AAP reacted, saying, "It is strange that a person who disrupted the Delhi Assembly during last 10 years is now pointing fingers at others."
Leader of the opposition in the Delhi assembly and former chief minister Atishi wrote a letter to the Speaker last month, raising concerns that following the amendments in the GNCTD Act, the legislative assembly "cannot make any rule to enable itself or its committees to consider the day-to-day administration of the Capital or conduct inquiries in relation to the administrative decisions".
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The letter was in reference to three CAG reports – public health, liquor supply, and vehicular air pollution – being scrutinised by PAC.
Gupta said Rule 280 was vague and sometimes exploited for "vested interests." The amendments will address this, make rules gender-neutral, simplify language, and align them with parliamentary rules. The assembly has also formed two new committees— Committee on the Welfare of Senior Citizens and the Committee on the Welfare of Transgenders and Persons with Disabilities—and is drafting rules for them.
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