New Delhi [India], January 24 : Hours after the Delhi High Court highlighted AAP's delay in tabling Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports, BJP leader Vijender Gupta lashed out at the Aam Admi Party-led Delhi government.
The BJP leader termed the HC ruling as a slap on the face of the Delhi government.
Gupta told ANI "The Court has said that CAG report must be brought to the floor of the House, but not now. The Court has also observed that the CAG report has been delayed. It exposes the AAP-led Delhi govt that tried to hide corruption by not tabling the CAG report in the House..."
"After this ruling, it is a slap on the face of the Delhi government that they suppressed and hid the CAG report.
The Delhi High Court has declined to direct the calling of a special session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly to discuss the reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the lead-up to the upcoming Assembly elections. However, a bench of Justice Sachin Datta noted the inordinate delay on the part of the Delhi government in tabling the reports.
The Court emphasized that tabling the CAG reports before the Delhi Legislative Assembly is a mandatory constitutional obligation.
The plea filed by BJP Vijender Gupta petition by several BJP MLAs that the 14 CAG reports linked to policy initiatives of the Delhi government be tabled at the State Assembly.
Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, representing the Assembly Speaker, argued that the court should not issue directions to the Speaker, questioning whether it would serve any meaningful purpose given that only 20 days remained in the current Assembly's term, making it impractical to follow the procedures outlined under the Rules.
Previously Delhi High Court had criticised the Delhi Government for its delay in addressing the CAG reports, stating, "The way you have dragged your feet raises doubts about your bona fides."
The court further emphasized, "You should have promptly forwarded the reports to the Speaker and initiated a discussion in the House."
The bench of Justice Sachin Datta earlier also questioned the Delhi government's handling of the CAG reports, stating, "The timeline is clear; you've dragged your feet to prevent the session from happening." The court further remarked, "The delay in sending the reports to the LG and your handling of the matter raises doubts about your bona fides."
Earlier, the Delhi High Court sought responses from the Delhi Government, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, and other respondents regarding a petition filed by BJP MLAs. The petition called for the convening of a special session of the Assembly to present 14 CAG reports.
The Delhi Government informed the Court that all 14 reports had been sent to the Speaker.