The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

(Bill No. 92 of 2022)

(Bill No. 92 of 2022)

In Lok Sabha: introduced on March 25, 2022, passed on 30 March 2022

Introduced by: ministry of Home Affairs

Main objective

          This Bill seeks amendment in The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 Act. To merge three Municipal corporations in the National Capital. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated in 2012. The three civic bodies at the present, the North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations, are spread across 272 wards with three commissioners, 66 heads of departments, and three mayoral officers.

Main provisions of The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022

1. Unification of Municipal Corporations in Delhi: 

The Bill replaces the three municipal corporations under the Act with one corporation named the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

2. Powers of the Delhi government:

2011 amendment empowered the Delhi government to decide various matters under the Act.  These matters are:

ii. total number of seats of councillors and number of seats reserved for members of the Scheduled Castes,

iii. division of the area of corporations into zones and wards,

iv. delimitation of wards,

v. matters such as salary and allowances, and leave of absence of the Commissioner,

vi. sanctioning of consolidation of loans by a corporation, and

vii. sanctioning suits for compensation against the Commissioner for loss or waste or misapplication of Municipal Fund or property.

          Similarly, the Act mandates that the Commissioner will exercise his powers regarding building regulations under the general superintendence and directions of the Delhi government. 

          The proposed Bill instead empowers the central government to decide these matters.

3. Removal of Director of Local Bodies:

The Act provides for a Director of Local Bodies to assist the Delhi government and discharge certain functions which include:

i. coordinating between Corporations,

ii. framing Recruitment Rules for various posts, and

iii. coordinating the collecting and sharing of toll tax collected by the respective Corporations. 

iv. The Bill omits the provision for a Director of Local Bodies.

4. Number of councillors:

The Act provides that the number of seats in the three corporations taken together should not be more than 272.  The 14th Schedule to the Act specifies 272 wards across the three Corporations. 

The Bill states that the total number of seats in the new Corporation should not be more than 250.

5. Special officer to be appointed by the central government:

The Bill provides that the central government may appoint a Special Officer to exercise powers of the Corporation until the first meeting of the Corporation is held after the commencement of the Bill. 

6. Conditions of service for sweepers:

The Act provides that a sweeper employed for doing house scavenging of a building would be required to give a reasonable cause or a 14-day notice before discontinuing his service. 

        The Bill seeks to omit this provision.

7. E-governance system for citizens:

The Bill adds that obligatory functions of the new Corporation will include establishing an e-governance system for citizen services on an anytime-anywhere basis for better, accountable, and transparent administration.  

          The civic polls in Delhi, due in mid-April were deferred by the State Election Commission on account of this Bill.

 List of amendments

in The Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957

• 1. The Repealing and Amending Act, 1960 (58 of 1960).
• 2. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1961 (42 of 1961).
• 3. The Delhi Motor Vehicles Taxation Act, 1962 (57 of 1962).
• 4. The Repealing and Amending Act, 1964 (52 of 1964).
• 5. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1968 (2 of 1968).
• 6. The Delhi Road Transport Laws (Amendment) Act, 1971 (71 of 1971).
• 7. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1974 (55 of 1974).
• 8. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1983 (8 of 1983).
• 9. The Delegated Legislation Provisions (Amendment) Act, 1983 (20 of 1983).
• 10. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1984 (42 of 1984).
• 11. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1987 (8 of 1987).
• 12. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1988 (11 of 1988).
• 13. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 1993 (67 of 1993).
• 14. The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2011 (12 of 2011)