New Delhi : In a scathing reprimand to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, the Delhi High Court on Monday raised serious concerns about the government’s handling of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. A single-judge bench, led by Justice Sachin Datta, criticized the Delhi government for its delay in forwarding the report to the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, thereby preventing a timely discussion in the House.
The court noted, “The way you have dragged your feet raises doubts about your bona fides.” Justice Datta pointed out that the government should have immediately sent the report to the Speaker and initiated discussions in the legislative assembly. He emphasized that there was a clear timeline for such actions, and the government’s failure to adhere to it had effectively stalled the process.
The court’s comments came as part of its ongoing scrutiny of the government’s response to the CAG report, which pertains to financial irregularities and accountability in the Delhi government’s spending. The delay in presenting the report to the Assembly was seen as a hindrance to transparency and public accountability.
Justice Datta continued, “You should have promptly forwarded the reports to the Speaker and initiated a discussion in the House. The timeline is clear, you have dragged your feet to prevent the session from happening.” The remarks were directed at the Delhi government’s apparent reluctance to move forward with the legislative process, with the court suggesting that the delay undermined the very purpose of holding the assembly session and discussing important financial matters.
In defense, the Delhi government questioned the practicality of convening a legislative session given the imminent elections in the region. The government argued that the political climate ahead of the elections made it difficult to carry out such a session effectively. However, the court rejected the explanation, emphasizing that the government’s duty to ensure transparency and accountability should not be compromised, regardless of the political context.
This ongoing clash between the judiciary and the Delhi government underscores the growing tensions over issues of governance and transparency in the national capital. While the AAP government has defended its actions, the Delhi High Court’s observations suggest increasing scrutiny of how the government manages critical reports and its commitment to upholding democratic processes.
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