Date:12/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/12/stories/2003081205061100.htm

National

Bill on statehood for Delhi cleared

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 11. With polls to the Delhi Assembly just three months away, the Union Cabinet today gave its nod to a Bill to confer statehood on Delhi. The proposed Bill would be introduced during the current session of Parliament.

Briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, said the Delhi Statehood Bill, 2003 would grant full statehood to the entire National Capital Territory with police and public order remaining under the purview of the Central Government.

She said that Articles 239-A (a) and 239-A (b) of the Constitution relating to Delhi's Union Territory status would be done away with.

However, the Centre, under the provisions of the proposed Bill, would enjoy the powers to give directions to the State Government on issues on which differences may arise and the State Government would have to abide by these, the Minister said.