The Cabinet on Thursday approved the amendment in the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994, by introducing the New Delhi Municipal Council (Amendment) Bill, 2010 in the Parliament. The Bill shall be introduced in the next session of the Parliament.

The Bill seeks to amend the provisions in the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 relating to the composition of the council by making the Member of Parliament representing the New Delhi area as Member of the Council with voting rights and increasing the number of representatives belonging to the Scheduled Castes from one to two. The Bill also seeks to amend the provisions relating to the order to be followed for presiding the meetings of the Council.

At the same time, the Bill proposes to reduce the number of Members of Legislative Assembly of Delhi, whose constituencies fall in the New Delhi area, as Members of the Council, from three to two as there are only two such Legislative Assembly constituencies whose area fully or partly fall in the New Delhi area. Increase is proposed in the number of members from amongst the prescribed fields, nominated by the central government in consultation with the chief minister, Delhi from two to four.

The approval will ensure greater participation of weaker sections of the society and people’s representatives in the decision making of the New Delhi Municipal Council.

After delimitation of the Assembly Constituencies in Delhi in the year 2008, there are only two Assembly Constituencies whose area falls fully or partly in the New Delhi area. Further, the Estimates Committee (14th Lok Sabha) had recommended giving voting rights to the Member of Parliament representing New Delhi area.