President returns amendment Bill on service delivery

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has returned an amendment Bill on time-bound delivery of services passed by the Delhi assembly, seeking clarification from the Delhi government on the expression “government” used in one of the clauses of the proposed law among other things.

The Delhi assembly had passed the Delhi (Right Of Citizen To Time Bound Delivery of Services) Amendment Bill in November 2015, which would make government officials liable to automatic deductions from their salaries in case of delayed delivery to Delhiites.

The Bill aims to amend Delhi (Right to Citizen to time bound delivery of services) Act, 2011, the clauses of which were described as an “eyewash” by deputy CM Manish Sisodia while introducing the amendment Bill in the assembly.

Sources said the president has sought explanation on two key amendments of the law. One relates to curbing the powers of the LG. The Arvind Kejriwal government has also changed the definition of the Delhi government in the proposed law.