4. STATEHOOD FOR DELHI

4.

 STATEHOOD FOR DELHI

Delhi and Puducherry are the only union territories of India which have been given partial statehood according to the Seventh Schedule of the constitution. Delhi is defined as National Capital Territory of India (NCT-Delhi). Hence Delhi and Puducherry are headed by their chief ministers and Lieutenant Governors, appointed by the President acting as head of State. Other union territories are governed by special administrators appointed by the President of India.

The CM of Delhi does not have powers like CMs of other states in India since Delhi does not have full statehood.

            Law and order and land related matters are not under the government of Delhi. The Union home ministry deals with law and order. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which owns the major chunk of land in Delhi, is a part of the Union Urban Development Ministry. The chairman of DDA is the lieutenant governor of Delhi. The lieutenant governor is considered as the Center’s representative in Delhi. The police commissioner also reports to the lieutenant governor.

Ever since the Delhi assembly came into existence in 1993, political parties have been trying to get full Statehood for Delhi. But the Congress government always wanted the power to remain with the center and that is why they never allowed full Statehood for Delhi.

The CM is not able to go ahead with development projects in Delhi since land is not a State subject. Land is required to set up schools, hospitals and so on.

 The Delhi police force is under the control of the Center and not Delhi State government. This is a great drawback for the CM of Delhi. The CM cannot suspend or transfer any police officer.

AAP promised to bring full statehood to Delhi so that DDA will be under the authority of Delhi government and can take decisions regarding establishment of new colonies, regularization of unauthorized colonies, etc. Police and law must come under Delhi government. MCD must also be in the control of Delhi government.

WORK DONE IN DELHI REGARDING STATEHOOD FOR DELHI

After AAP formed government in Delhi, people of Khirki area in Delhi complained to the law minister Somnath Bharti that sex and drug racket was going on in their area. To investigate the matter Somanth Bharti went to the area. But when he asked the police to raid the building in which sex and drug racket was going on, the police refused to obey his orders.

CM Kejriwal sat on a dharna for two days to protest against two policemen who refused to listen to the law minister when he asked them to raid a house in which drug and sex racket was going on. Kejriwal demanded full statehood for Delhi. He slept on the roadside in the chill weather of Delhi. He gave up his dharna only after the center promised to take action against the police.