Table pending CAG reports in Assembly, L-G tells Atishi

Saxena expresses concern over the delay, accuses Delhi government of deliberately withholding the reports to avoid public scrutiny; BJP legislators stage a walkout from Assembly over the issue

Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena on Friday wrote to Chief Minister Atishi, asking her to table the pending reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in the Assembly. Expressing concern over the delay, Mr. Saxena accused the Delhi government of deliberately withholding the reports to avoid public scrutiny.

According to the L-G’s office, 12 CAG reports received since June 2022 are yet to be tabled in the Assembly. These reports cover key areas such as State finances, vehicular air pollution prevention, public health infrastructure, liquor regulation, and financial accounts for 2020-21.

Mr. Saxena said the CAG office has in the past sent several reminders to the Delhi government. “I am writing to draw your urgent attention to the issue of non-laying of CAG reports on the floor of the Assembly, which is a crucial part of the constitutional framework of accountability of the government in power,” he stated.

The L-G, in his letter, pointed out that the reports were not tabled in the Assembly session on Friday, likely to be the last session before the election due in February. A delegation of BJP MLAs had met the L-G on Thursday to flag the matter. They also walked out of the House on Friday within minutes after start of the Winter Session over the issue.

The L-G said he had raised the issue repeatedly with former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Calling the delay a “gross constitutional impropriety”

“It is unfortunate that the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi has consciously chosen not to adhere to this Constitutional norm, thereby avoiding disclosure and public scrutiny of the performance of the government. CAG is mandated to conduct not just an exercise in plain accounting for ensuring financial propriety, but also to evaluate the efficacy of outcomes of public expenditure,” the letter read.

Mr. Saxena said, “I had underscored the importance of this issue to the then Chief Minister [Arvind Kejriwal] on February 22, and also to the Speaker on August 9. The office of the CAG has sent several reminders to my office, requesting urgent action in this regard.”

In September, the L-G had written to the Chief Secretary and Finance Secretary directing them to place the pending reports in the House after bringing it to the attention of the Chief Minister.

The L-G had also written to the Assembly Secretary over the same. “You [Atishi] also hold the portfolio of the Finance Department, and I am sure you are conscious of your constitutional obligation,” he said.

Mr. Saxena, who previously praised Ms. Atishi saying that she is a far better Chief Minister than her predecessor, praised her in his letter again. “You are an accomplished public leader with a stellar record of academic qualifications. I am sanguine that you shall heed my counsel and uphold public trust during the ongoing session of the Assembly,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Friday advanced the hearing on a plea filed by BJP MLAs seeking a direction to table the 12 CAG reports in the Assembly. The court allowed an early hearing application filed by the petitioners and advanced the matter from December 9 to December 2.

Published - November 30, 2024 01:33 am IST