BJP MLAs Petition Delhi HC Over Pending CAG Reports

Delhi Riots

Several Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs from Delhi have approached the Delhi High Court on Monday seeking directions for the Delhi Government to promptly forward 14 Comptroller and Auditor General reports to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

The petition calls for a time-bound submission and urges the Speaker to take necessary steps under Article 151(2) of the Constitution to convene a special Assembly session to table the reports.

The plea highlights the constitutional obligation of presenting CAG reports in the Assembly without delay. It states that after audits are conducted, the CAG promptly submits its findings to the Department of Finance’s Secretary, who forwards them to the Chief Minister/Finance Minister.

However, significant delays have occurred, with some reports held for up to 490 days and one pending for 497 days.

The petition argues that this delay has prevented the Lieutenant Governor (LG) from fulfilling his constitutional duty of ensuring the reports are presented in the Legislative Assembly.

The matter was brought before Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru’s bench. After hearing Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta’s submissions, the bench agreed to list the case on Tuesday before the appropriate branch.

The petitioners outlined their efforts to address the issue both inside and outside the Assembly. Within the Assembly, they moved motions under rules such as Calling Attention (Rule 54), Short Duration Discussion (Rule 55), and Notice for Adjournment (Rule 59).

Outside, they raised the issue publicly through protests and sent formal communications to the Speaker.

On December 19, 2024, the MLAs staged a protest against what they described as the unconstitutional and undemocratic functioning of the Assembly. They criticized the government for failing to table the CAG reports or convene a special session despite assurances given to the High Court on December 16, 2024.

On the same day, the petitioners met with the Speaker and submitted a memorandum emphasizing the importance of promptly tabling the reports. The memorandum noted the Delhi Government’s commitment to forwarding the CAG reports within 2 or 3 days and urged the Speaker to convene a special session to deliberate on them.

The petitioners have consistently stressed the need for transparency and timely action, arguing that these delays undermine accountability and constitutional governance in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.