A group of BJP MLAs has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, pressing for immediate release of 12 withheld Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports concerning key administrative areas including liquor duty, pollution, and financial policies. The petition spearheaded by Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, aims to ensure these reports are submitted to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and subsequently tabled before the Delhi Assembly.
The reports spanning fiscal years 2017-2018 through 2021-2022, allegedly held back by Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi, represent significant public interest and are crucial for the legislative oversight of government operations and spending. “This deliberate suppression of vital information undermines the democratic principles and obstructs the Assembly’s ability to scrutinize government actions and expenditures,” stated the petition.
The petitioners, including MLAs Mohan Singh Bisht, Om Prakash Sharma, Ajay Kumar Mahawar, Abhay Verma, Anil Kumar Bajpai, and Jitendra Mahajan, have also voiced their frustrations over the non-responsive attitude of the administrative heads, including the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and the Speaker, regarding their requests for transparency.
Advocates Neeraj and Satya Ranjan Swain, representing the MLAs, have urged the court to issue a writ mandating the Department of Finance to propose to the LG the necessity of fulfilling his constitutional duties under Article 151(2) of the Indian Constitution. The plea underlines the critical role of the LG in ensuring these reports reach the legislative assembly for a thorough review.
The plea, which includes the Delhi government, Assembly Speaker, LG, CAG, and Accountant General (Audit) as respondents, highlights the pressing need to rectify this alleged oversight to uphold democratic governance and ensure effective evaluation of the Delhi government’s fiscal and policy decisions.
