Congress questions passage of Delhi bill when no-trust vote is pending in Lok Sabha

Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted, "It is unfortunate that bill after bill is being passed in the Lok Sabha in the din.

Kaul & Shakhdar Page 772 Practice & Procedure of Parliament is very explicit. 'When the leave of the house to the moving of a motion of ‘ No confidence’ has been granted no substantive motion on Policy matters is to be brought before the house by the government till the motion of no confidence is not disposed off.'

"If substantive motion of Policy is barred obviously legislation also can not be brought which holds the field for a 100 years or more . I request Speaker @ombirlakota to start the discussion on the No confidence motion without let or demur. It is a travesty to pass bills when the No confidence is still pending."

Trashing the Congress' question, Speaker Om Birla said as quoted by NDTV, "In my view, the time available to the House between leave being granted by the House and moving of the motion of no confidence can be gainfully utilised by the House in debates and discussion.

"The House would agree that it is our constitutional duty to legislate and raise issues of public importance. Rule 198 also does not bar taking up of any legislative or other matters of public importance after leave to moving a motion of no confidence has been granted by the House."

An ordinance was earlier brought by the government when the Parliament was not in session but it must be cleared by the legislature within six weeks of its reassembly.

The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of Group A officers from the Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Civil) Services (DANICS) cadre. It would also empower the body to initiate disciplinary actions against them.

Delhi, the national capital, has a city government, governed by the country's ruling BJP's opposition force AAP, despite being a union territory.