Swaraj Bill promises to make Prez aam aadmi
15 Feb 2014 4:58 AM IST
Or will he be appointed as a councillor to chair the meeting of his ward committee? These questions arise, as the final draft of the Bill, approved in the cabinet meeting of Delhi government on Thursday, mandates creation of wards and Mohalla Sabhas in the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
‘Why can’t the president be a member of his Mohalla Sabha and put across his views? This is our basic agenda to end the VIP culture,’ said SC Behar, adviser to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who is the brain behind the Bill.
‘In the meeting of the Sabha, the president will be like a common member or can be an elected member or councillor of his ward depending on his wish. He is also a common citizens when he goes to caste his vote at a polling booth,’ he argued. He further contended that for his Mohalla Sabha, the president will be like a common member and will not be allowed any of special privileges. ‘The protocols can be amended as we want to end this VIP culture,’ he added. The revised Bill mandates creation of 20 wards in the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) which would be divided into 8-10 Mohalla Sabhas each.
As per the Bill, in the NDMC area councillors would be appointees and elected.  The cabinet, however, omitted the clause of the Bill which aimed to bring Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) under its jurisdiction. Millennium Post had highlighted the controversial provision of bringing army area under a state rule and introducing civil officers in DCB, in a news on Wednesday — ‘AAP government set to lock horns with ministry of defence’. ‘The provision was removed as defence ministry falls in the Union List of the Constitution and state has no jurisdiction on this matter,’ said a top level officer associated with drafting the Bill. ‘The Bill has been approved by the cabinet and is likely to be placed in the assembly on Friday,’ he added. The amended Bill is likely to be placed in the assembly on Friday.
‘Why can’t the president be a member of his Mohalla Sabha and put across his views? This is our basic agenda to end the VIP culture,’ said SC Behar, adviser to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who is the brain behind the Bill.
‘In the meeting of the Sabha, the president will be like a common member or can be an elected member or councillor of his ward depending on his wish. He is also a common citizens when he goes to caste his vote at a polling booth,’ he argued. He further contended that for his Mohalla Sabha, the president will be like a common member and will not be allowed any of special privileges. ‘The protocols can be amended as we want to end this VIP culture,’ he added. The revised Bill mandates creation of 20 wards in the jurisdiction of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) which would be divided into 8-10 Mohalla Sabhas each.
As per the Bill, in the NDMC area councillors would be appointees and elected.  The cabinet, however, omitted the clause of the Bill which aimed to bring Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) under its jurisdiction. Millennium Post had highlighted the controversial provision of bringing army area under a state rule and introducing civil officers in DCB, in a news on Wednesday — ‘AAP government set to lock horns with ministry of defence’. ‘The provision was removed as defence ministry falls in the Union List of the Constitution and state has no jurisdiction on this matter,’ said a top level officer associated with drafting the Bill. ‘The Bill has been approved by the cabinet and is likely to be placed in the assembly on Friday,’ he added. The amended Bill is likely to be placed in the assembly on Friday.
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