The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to direct the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly to call a special meeting for presenting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the Delhi government’s operations.
The court pointed out that the Atishi Marlena-led government had delayed presenting the report, which raised concerns about its intentions. The court emphasised that under the Constitution, it is necessary for the government to present the CAG report to the Assembly.
The petition was filed by BJP MLA Vijender Gupta and other BJP legislators, asking the court to direct the Speaker to hold a joint session of the Assembly to table the CAG report.
The Delhi Assembly Speaker explained that a special sitting could only be called if the Chief Minister sends the report to the Lieutenant Governor (LG), who would then forward it to the Speaker.
With the Delhi Assembly elections approaching in a few weeks, the CAG report, which highlights issues in the now-withdrawn liquor policy causing a loss of Rs 2,026 crore to Delhi's treasury, has become a major controversy.
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Both the Congress and BJP have criticised Arvind Kejriwal’s party over corruption, using the report as evidence.
Recently, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken accused Kejriwal of preventing the CAG report from being presented in the Assembly. He pointed out that Kejriwal, who once claimed to fight corruption, was now withholding the report from public discussion.
For over a month, BJP legislators have been pushing for a joint session of the outgoing Delhi Assembly. Last month, Gupta, one of the petitioners, claimed that the AAP government had only sent 10 out of 14 CAG reports to the Lieutenant Governor after BJP leaders approached the court.
Also Read: Delhi HC to pass order on tabling of CAG reports in assembly on Jan 24
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