The Delhi High Court issued a notice on Tuesday in response to a petition filed by Delhi BJP MLAs, demanding that the Delhi government forward Comptroller and Auditor General reports to the Lieutenant Governor.
The MLAs argue that these reports are crucial for the LG to present before the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Justice Sanjeev Narula, after hearing the submissions, sought responses from several parties, including the Government of NCT Delhi, the Ministry of Finance, the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly, and the Lieutenant Governor. A detailed hearing is scheduled for December 9, 2024.
The petition, led by Vijender Gupta, the Leader of the Opposition, claims that the Ministry of Finance has failed to present 12 CAG reports to the LG. On August 30, 2024, Gupta communicated with the President of India and shared copies with opposition leaders, highlighting the suppression of these reports, which he argued violates constitutional mechanisms.
The communication pointed out that as of August 2024, 11 CAG reports were pending with Finance Minister Atishi. Despite the LG’s repeated requests, these reports were not sent, preventing their tabling in the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
Gupta stated, “This deliberate suppression of vital information not only violates democratic principles but also hampers proper scrutiny of government actions and expenditures, raising serious concerns about financial propriety, transparency, and accountability.”
The BJP MLAs, including Mohan Singh Bisht, Om Prakash Sharma, Ajay Kumar Mahawar, Abhay Verma, Anil Kumar Bajpai, and Jitendra Mahajan, claimed the Delhi government failed to submit CAG reports related to various issues, including liquor and pollution, from the years 2017-2018 to 2021-2022 to the LG.
Despite previous approaches to the Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Chief Secretary, and Speaker regarding this matter, no action has been taken. The BJP MLAs have even protested outside Atishi’s residence to raise awareness of the issue. The petition was filed by advocates Neeraj and Satya Ranjan Swain.
Opposition leaders have been consistently demanding a special session to discuss the suppressed CAG reports, but no action has been forthcoming. According to public information, the Office of the CAG has been forwarding audit reports on state finances and performance in various governance sectors related to Delhi.
As the case progresses, the implications of the Delhi government’s handling of the CAG reports will be closely scrutinized, especially regarding accountability and transparency in governance.
