The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has how many seats?

The Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi has 70 members, all elected directly from territorial constituencies.

Constitutional basis:

• The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1991 inserted Articles 239AA and 239AB into the Constitution.
• Article 239AA gave Delhi the status of the National Capital Territory, with a Legislative Assembly and a Council of Ministers headed by a Chief Minister.
• The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 lays down the details.

Composition:

• The Assembly has 70 seats, of which 12 are reserved for Scheduled Castes.
• Members are elected for a term of five years.
• There are no nominated members.

Powers of the Delhi Assembly:

• It can make laws on subjects in the State List and the Concurrent List as they apply to Union territories.
• It cannot make laws on public order, police and land, which remain with the Union government.
• Parliament can make laws on any subject for Delhi.

Role of the Union government:

The President's appointee in Delhi has significant powers and can refer a difference of opinion with the elected government to the President.

Disputes over powers:

• In 2018, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that the President's appointee is bound by the aid and advice of the elected government in most matters.
• In 2023, the Supreme Court held that the Delhi government has control over services, except for public order, police and land.
• Parliament then passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2023, which created a National Capital Civil Service Authority.

Representation in Parliament:

Delhi has 7 seats in the Lok Sabha and 3 seats in the Rajya Sabha.

Other Union territories with legislatures:

Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir also have Legislative Assemblies.

Why not the other options?

• ✗60, 75 and 80 do not match the strength of the Delhi Assembly.