The Government of Delhi, officially the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) is the governing body of the Union Territory of Delhi, whose urban area is the seat of the Government of India. It also governs the city or local governments in the area as per the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act.[2][3][4]
Union Territories are governed by the Union Government. There are a few exceptions, such as Delhi and Puducherry which also have their own elected governments with some limitations.[5]
In May 2023, a Supreme Court verdict ruled that the Government of Delhi has power over all administrative services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), except police, land and public order, and the Lieutenant Governor shall exercise power under the administrative role.[6]
Just a few days after the Supreme Court's judgement, the Central Government issued an ordinance to establish the 'National Capital Civil Services Authority' in Delhi. This ordinance designates the Delhi Chief Minister as the head of the authority, with the Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of the Delhi government serving as members. The primary role of this authority is to oversee the transfer and posting of Group 'A' officers and DANICS officers currently employed in the Delhi government.[7][8]
Local governments
The local or city government is headed by the mayor. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi handled civic administration for the city, and had one mayor.[9]
The Legislative Assembly of Delhi was first constituted on 17 March 1952 under the Government of Part C States Act, 1951, but it was abolished on 1 October 1956. Its legislative assembly was re-established in the year of 1993, after the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 came into force, followed by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 2021 the Sixty-ninth Amendment to the Constitution of India, declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.[12]
The first chief minister of Delhi was Ch. Braham Prakash (INC) and the first woman CM was Sushma Swaraj of BJP. Sheila Dikshit (INC) has been the chief minister for the maximum times (three) and oversaw immense development of the city during her tenure. Guru Radha Kishan (CPI) had the rare distinction of representing his constituency in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for most years continuously by an individual and Ch. Prem Singh (INC) has won the maximum elections for different civic bodies in Delhi.
The Supreme Court of India in Government of NCT of Delhi v. Union of India ruled that according to the Article 239AA of the Indian constitution, that although the government had to keep him/her informed of its decisions, Delhi's lieutenant governor did not have any independent decision-making powers and had to follow the "aid and advice" of the chief minister-led council of ministers of the Government of Delhi on matters which the Delhi Legislative Assembly could legislate on, viz., all items on the State List (items on which only state legislatures can legislate) and the Concurrent List (items on which both the Parliament of India and the state legislatures can legislate) barring 'police, 'public order' and 'land'.[18][19][20][21][22][23] The court added that on matters referred to him/her, the LG was bound to follow the orders of the president.[20]
Judiciary
The Delhi High Court has jurisdiction over Delhi, which also has two types of lower courts: the Small Causes Court for civil cases, and the Sessions Court for criminal cases. Like other Union territories, the Delhi Police reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and not the government of NCT of Delhi. Headed by the Police Commissioner, it is one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world.[24] The headquarters of Delhi Police are located Jai Singh Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi.
