The never-ending charm of Delhi

Delhi, India’s capital, has witnessed the country’s tumultuous history for over a thousand years, for most of which it has remained the seat of power. Each reign has left its mark on the land in the form of monuments, language, food, and governance structures. And have made Delhi what it is today.

It is said that the city of Delhi has been razed and rebuilt seven times. New Delhi as it exists today is the eighth capital. This is probably why the contrast between different parts of the city is so sharp. The Lutyens Delhi architecture poses a stark contrast to the old city of Shahjahanabad. This article is an attempt to understand the changes in governance structures of this city, specifically during the last century.

Municipal Governance

A focal point in the establishment of New Delhi happened when Delhi became the capital of British India in 1931. The laying down of the railway line had already proliferated commercial activity to the city after 1857. A Town Hall was constructed that would house the Chamber of Commerce, a Literary Society, and a museum in addition to serving as the Municipality’s office. This was the start of modern urbanisation in Delhi. A British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens was brought in to create a master plan after the Delhi Town Planning committee was established. The central region of Delhi designed by him is still known as ‘Lutyens Delhi’ and is often used to symbolically refer to the elite ruling class of the city as well as the country.

A nascent municipality Municipal Commission of Delhi was inaugurated in 1863 to govern ‘the city and suburbs’ including imposing fees and taxes. Taxes included slaughter-house fees, and income from tobacco, ghee, oil, hides, charcoal, and limestone. In her 1981 book ‘Delhi between two empires, 1803-1901: Society, Government, and Urban Growth’, historian Narayani Gupta claims that British officials exploited the municipality to support their loyalists. In 1871, the Municipality’s structure was rationalized, with a paid secretary, 15 wards, and Delhi being given the title of first-class Municipality. A first-class municipality was granted independence in terms of expenditure, with only government audits being required.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi was officially established by an Act of Indian Constitution on April 7, 1958. Its first elected mayor was Pt Trilok Chand Sharma. The Delhi Municipal Corporation was trifurcated into three smaller municipal corporations in 2012 — East Delhi Municipal Corporation (64 wards), North Delhi Municipal Corporation (104) and South Delhi Municipal Corporation (104). But in 2022, another amendment unified the three MCs into one body with Shelly Oberoi being elected as the new Mayor. Apart from MCD, there are two other boards in Delhi for its upkeep. New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), which comes under the central government, governs central areas with central offices, Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, etc. Delhi Cantonment Board, which comes under the Ministry of Defence governs the cantonment area of Delhi.

Delhi – A city or a state?

Post-independence, Delhi underwent a pivotal transformation following The States’ Reorganisation Act, 1956, designating it as a Union Territory directly governed by the President of India. This period marked the city’s emergence as the political heart of the nation, grappling with the complexities inherent in its post-colonial landscape.

The old system of Part A, B, C, and D category States was abolished when the State Reorganisation Act, 1956, was passed, leaving only two categories – “States and Union Territories.” While the states were governed by legislative assemblies formed by direct elections, union territories were managed by an “Administrator” appointed by the President.

Delhi, however, was an exception to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 which governed all UTs. The Delhi Administration Act, 1966, introduced a tailored governance framework, which is the basis for Delhi’s governance. It gave Delhi’s Metropolitan Council limited representational government. With its blend of elected and nominated members, it marked an attempt to strike a balance between local representation and centralized control.

An expanding metropolis

Modern governance in Delhi extends beyond administrative boundaries, since the rising economic and political activity of Delhi started pouring into the adjacent cities of Gurgaon, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Meerut. These areas were officially recognised as part of the National Capital Region (NCR) in 1991, when the Constitution was amended to insert Article 239AA which established the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) which is a part of NCT of Delhi.

Delhi’s governance history, encapsulates the complexities of governance in a city holding a unique national significance. Understanding these historical developments provides insights into the dynamic forces that have shaped Delhi into the vibrant metropolis it is today.

In dinon garche dakkan mein hai badi qadr-e-sukhan
Kaun jaaye zauq par delhi ki galiyan chod kar”

Mohammad Ibrahim Zauq
Although, the south has much respect for art and culture,
But ‘Zauq’ who dares to leave the lanes of Delhi!