A Council, not a legislature: the elected house Delhi had before its Assembly

Background

Article 239A, inserted by the Constitution (Fourteenth Amendment) Act, allowed local legislatures for some Union Territories, but Delhi was left out of it. Delhi instead got an Interim Delhi Metropolitan Council with an Executive Council, under the Delhi Administration Act, 1966. The provisions of that Act took effect in 1966, and the Council lasted until 1990. Prior to that Act the administrator of the territory held the title of Chief Commissioner, and he was then designated Lt. Governor. The Metropolitan Council was the deliberative wing of the Delhi Administration, devised as a compromise rather than a house with full legislative and financial powers. The 1966 Act, in section 30, put the Lt. Governor under the general control of the President, who could also give him particular directions. Members of the Executive Council were appointed by the President, and the Chief Executive Councillor functioned as Leader of the House. Chairman and Deputy Chairman were elected by the Council from amongst its own members by a majority vote.