28 March 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): New Delhi, The Delhi MLAs will be able to ask questions related to the Services department of the Delhi government in the Assembly, Speaker Vijender Gupta said in a ruling on Friday.
A common complaint of the MLAs during the previous A regime was that the Services department refused to provide replies to questions asked by them citing some communication from the Centre.
“In the matter of ‘Services’ the Supreme Court has decided that it is not a reserved subject and questions related to the department will be admitted and answered,” Gupta said in a statement.
The Services department matters like transfer and posting of Group A officers including those of Indian Administrative Services posted with the Delhi government are decided by a three-member National Capital Civil Services Authority headed by the chief minister.
Gupta giving his ruling in the Assembly explained that as per Article 239 AA, the subjects are reserved not the departments and added that he will admit questions regarding the reserved subjects on a case-to-case basis.
The departments of Home and Land and Building perform many functions that are not reserved, he said.
As per our Rules of Procedure, the Speaker is the final authority to decide the admissibility of Questions, he said. Under Rule 48, the Speaker has the power to decide the admissibility of questions, Gupta said.
Under Rule 291 the Speaker is empowered to interpret the Rules and his decision is final.
Under Rule 292 Speaker has the residuary powers in any matters which have not been provided for in the Rules and Under 293 no decision of the Speaker in respect of allowing or disallowing any question will be questioned, he added.
Summary: Delhi Speaker Vijender Gupta ruled that questions related to the Services department can be asked in the Assembly, as it is not a reserved subject.