DARJELLING: Delhi model option


BY ARCHIS MOHAN

New Delhi, Aug. 18: The Centre, in what could be a trial balloon, is looking at the option of granting Union territory status on the lines of the Delhi model to the Darjeeling hills after the expiry of the proposed interim authority’s tenure.

The term of the interim authority, according to the Union government’s proposal, ends on December 31, 2011.

The Centre is looking beyond that for a more permanent solution to the statehood problem, particularly with the Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha unwilling to extend the life of the proposed authority to December 2012.

The Centre feels there is little possibility of the Bengal government agreeing to Morcha demands for additional territory — the party wants the Dooars and Terai besides the Darjeeling hills — or statehood.

Even the Centre has reservations about the two demands considering the strategic location of the region.

Under the circumstances, granting Union territory (UT) status to the hills is being seen as a face saver for the stakeholders with all sides compromising a little on their stand on additional territory, say officials in New Delhi.
The proposed plan, based largely on the National Capital Territory model of Delhi, will offer an elected Assembly with sizeable legislative powers to the hills. At present, only two of the seven UTs — NCT of Delhi and Puducherry — have elected Legislative Assemblies.

The Darjeeling hills will become a centrally administered UT with the Bengal governor playing the role of the lieutenant governor for the set-up. This is similar to the Punjab governor who also acts as an administrator for the UT of Chandigarh.

And just like Delhi, the new UT’s Legislative Assembly may not be empowered to legislate on crucial subjects under the state list.

The Delhi Assembly cannot legislate on state list’s entries 1, 2 and 18 that relate to maintenance of public order, police and land. These powers rest with the Union government through the lieutenant governor. Thus important agencies like the Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Police, New Delhi Municipal Council and Municipal Corporation of Delhi are out of the Delhi government’s jurisdiction.

On the flip side, an UT status would also mean that the Bengal cadre officials will no longer run the administration. They will be replaced by AGMUT cadre officers who run administrations in the existing seven UTs along with the states of Goa, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

Officials have asked the Morcha leaders to read the Delhi Administration Act of 1966 that governed Delhi till it was granted partial statehood in 1991 as the interim authority will be based on that act.

However, for the moment, the Centre’s plan needs to cross several hurdles including convincing the new government at Writers’ Building post April-May.

source; telegraph