Delhi Assembly winter session: Govt clears five amendment Bills

NEW DELHI: In a significant development, Delhi Cabinet today cleared five Bills for amendment, including the School Education Amendment Bill, which are to be introduced in the Winter Session of Delhi Assembly that begins on November 18.

However, the Janlokpal Bill, demands for the tabling of which were made by opposition BJP and Congress, was not in the list cleared by the Delhi Cabinet.

The government will in the Winter Session introduce the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC Amendment Bill), Delhi School Education Amendment Bill, Working Journalists Provisions Act (Amendment Bill), Minimum Wages Amendment Bill and Amendment in Delhi Right to Citizens Time-Bound Service Delivery Act.

Also, it will introduce the Delhi Schools Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee Bill.

The Cabinet also approved the simplification in issuance of various certificates by the Revenue Department of Delhi government.

Earlier, at a programme organised by the PHD chamber of Industry and Commerce, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the government will bring an amendment in the Right to Education (RTE) Act and do away with the 'no-detention policy' till class VIII as has been done in a number of states.

"Because of the no-detention policy, students are being promoted till class VIII leading to deterioration of standards, which has been pointed out by teachers and parents. So, the decision to do remove the no-detention policy was taken at the Cabinet meeting today," he said.

He also added that "no screening will be allowed in nursery admissions, it has to completely random-based. Even parents of the children should not be interviewed".

He said that the government is also planning to regulate the fees in private schools of the city and will introduce Delhi Schools Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee Bill in the Assembly.