(Abstract
of a report)
“…This
recommendation of the States Reorganisation Commission was one of those
accepted by the Government and implemented by the enactment of the Constitution
(Seventh) Amendment Act, 1956. Among the far-reaching changes in the boundaries
and names of various States, it also renamed Part C States as Union Territories
and omitted articles 240, as it then stood, which enabled Parliament to create
Legislatures and Council of Ministers. Consequent on this, Delhi ceased to be a
Part C State and it became a Union Territory under the direct administration of
the President. The legislative Assembly and Council of Ministers for Delhi also
ceased to exist with effect from 1-11-56. In accordance with another
recommendation of the Commission, the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 was
enacted constituting a Municipal Corporation for the whole of Delhi with
members elected on the basis of adult franchise. The jurisdiction of the Delhi
Municipal Corporation covered almost the entire Union Territory of Delhi,
including both urban and rural areas. The areas within the limits of New Delhi
Municipal Committee and Delhi Cantonment Board were kept outside the
jurisdiction of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, but the territorial jurisdiction
of the New Delhi Municipal Committee was reduced to 42.73 Kms. The Corporation
took over the functions previously entrusted to ten local bodies and three
statutory boards. In addition, the Corporate was also vested with certain
functions which are not normally those of civic bodies.…”
