Latest news with #DelhiLegislativeAssembly
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Panel proposes financial autonomy, independent Secretariat for Delhi Assembly
In a move that can give more powers to the Speaker, the Delhi Legislative Assembly's Rules Committee has moved a proposal to establish an independent Secretariat and grant financial autonomy to the House, officials said. The committee, under the chairmanship of Speaker Vijender Gupta, has given in-principle approval to the proposal, and a resolution in this regard is likely to be moved in the upcoming Monsoon Session, officials added. 'Since its constitution in 1993, the Delhi Assembly has been functioning without a dedicated secretarial cadre or financial independence. Unlike Parliament and State Legislatures, where the Speaker has authority over appointments and administrative matters, the Delhi Assembly relies on officers deputed from various government departments. This dependency has led to operational inefficiencies and curtailed the Assembly's functional autonomy,' said an official. Acknowledging this concern, the Speaker, in a recent meeting, proposed the establishment of a separate Legislative Secretariat and bringing in financial autonomy for the Assembly. This proposal aligns with Articles 98 and 187 of the Constitution, which ensure such provisions for Parliament and State Legislatures, respectively, said officials. Currently, there are three Union Territories (UT) — Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu & Kashmir — that have their own assemblies. Of these, the Delhi Assembly is the only one created as a constitutional body, whereas the Puducherry and J&K legislatures are statutory bodies created by the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, respectively. However, no such provision for a separate Secretariat was made for the Delhi Assembly either in the Constitution or in the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, according to a statement by the Delhi Assembly. 'In light of Article 239 AA(b) of the Constitution — which empowers Parliament to regulate matters related to the functioning of the Delhi Legislative Assembly — it has been proposed that the Rules Committee may recommend an amendment to the GNCTD Act, 1991. This would enable the formation of a separate Secretariat and grant financial autonomy to the Delhi Assembly, bringing it at par with State Legislatures and the UT of Jammu & Kashmir,' the statement said. Officials said once implemented, the proposal would mark a major step forward in ensuring institutional independence and effective functioning of the Delhi Assembly as a constitutional legislative body.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Bill to regulate pvt school fee hike in Assembly soon
New Delhi: The second session of the eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 2:00 PM. One of the major highlights of this session will be the introduction of the Delhi School Education Transparency in Fixation and Regulation Bill, 2025. The bill aims to regulate and prevent arbitrary fee hikes by private schools in the capital. It follows growing public concern and numerous complaints from parents, prompting the Delhi government to take legislative action to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the fee structures of private educational institutions. Approximately ten days ago, Chief Minister Gupta, along with Education Minister Ashish Sood, held a press conference outlining the provisions of the upcoming bill. During the briefing, Gupta emphasized the government's intention to ensure transparency and accountability in the private education sector.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
5-fold increase in incentive for installing solar units: CM
New Delhi: The Delhi government has raised the incentive for installation of solar power plants in homes by five-fold and residents can get up to Rs 78,000 for units generating up to 3 KW, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for a 500 KV Solar Energy Plant at the Delhi Legislative Assembly, CM Gupta said, 'Adoption of clean energy is a focus area for the government and the government wants to utilise every public building for generate green energy.' CM Gupta praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'Surya Ghar Yojana' which has made the incentives for residential solar power generation more lucrative. Pointing to the peak demand in the city hovering around 8,000 MW, she called upon people to join the solar revolution and help the city march towards 'Viksit Delhi, Viksit Bharat'. The Delhi government is offering incentives to residential complexes for adopting solar energy, she said, urging residents to do their bit for the country while soldiers play their role by fighting the enemy on the front. She said the Delhi government has also sanctioned Rs 100 crore to rid the city of overhead high-tension wires. Referring to efforts being made to fight vehicular pollution, the CM said, 'We will come out with an EV policy to give incentives and encourage private vehicle owners to use these pollution-free vehicles.' The recent launch of the new fleet of green mid-sized Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) buses is a major step towards revolutionising the national Capital's public transport sector, countering pollution and providing last-mile connectivity to users of the Metro, she said. The government plans to launch 2,080 electric buses this year, she said. The Chief Minister said she had allotted Rs 9,000 crore in the Budget for speeding up the adoption of EVs and promised to boost the charging infrastructure and arrange facilities at bus depots. She also complimented Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta for steps taken to make the legislative business paperless.
Hans India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Green energy push: Delhi CM highlights 5-fold increase in incentive to instal solar power units
New Delhi: The Delhi government has raised the incentive for installation of solar power plants in homes by five-fold and residents can get up to Rs 78,000 for units generating up to 3 KW, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for a 500 KV Solar Energy Plant at the Delhi Legislative Assembly, CM Gupta said, 'Adoption of clean energy is a focus area for the government and the government wants to utilise every public building for generate green energy.' CM Gupta praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the 'Surya Ghar Yojana' which has made the incentives for residential solar power generation more lucrative. Pointing to the peak demand in the city hovering around 8,000 MW, she called upon people to join the solar revolution and help the city march towards 'Viksit Delhi, Viksit Bharat'. The Delhi government is offering incentives to residential complexes for adopting solar energy, she said, urging residents to do their bit for the country while soldiers play their role by fighting the enemy on the front. She said the Delhi government has also sanctioned Rs 100 crore to rid the city of overhead high-tension wires. Referring to efforts being made to fight vehicular pollution, the CM said, 'We will come out with an EV policy to give incentives and encourage private vehicle owners to use these pollution-free vehicles.' The recent launch of the new fleet of green mid-sized Delhi Electric Vehicle Interconnector (DEVI) buses is a major step towards revolutionising the national Capital's public transport sector, countering pollution and providing last-mile connectivity to users of the Metro, she said. The government plans to launch 2,080 electric buses this year, she said. The Chief Minister said she had allotted Rs 9,000 crore in the Budget for speeding up the adoption of EVs and promised to boost the charging infrastructure and arrange facilities at bus depots. She also complimented Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta for steps taken to make the legislative business paperless. The new solar-power unit at the Assembly is expected to result in zero electricity bills, generating estimated savings of approximately Rs 15 lakh per month, while making it the country's first fully solar-powered legislature.
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Thalassaemia Day: Delhi speaker Gupta calls for support to patients
NEW DELHI: Delhi Legislative Assembly on Thursday observed International Thalassaemia Day with a special awareness event. On the occasion, Assembly Speaker called for unity, prevention and support for Thalassaemia patients. The event was held at the Delhi Legislative Assembly Premises, organised in collaboration with the National Thalassaemia Welfare Society. Guided by this year's global theme, 'Together for Thalassemia: Uniting communities, prioritising patients,' the event underscored the urgency of unified action. In his address, Gupta reiterated the significance of the occasion, stating, 'Let today not be just a remembrance, but a renewed commitment to prevention, awareness, and support.' Gupta paid tribute to the unwavering strength of thalassaemia patients and their families, whom he described as beacons of courage and inspiration. India bears the heaviest global burden of thalassaemia, with more than 50 million carriers and an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 children born annually with thalassaemia major. While bone marrow transplantation remains the only known permanent cure, it is prohibitively expensive and dependent on donor availability—rendering it inaccessible to most patients. In the absence of curative options, affected individuals rely on lifelong blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy, often costing up to Rs 2 lakh per year.
