Delhi High Court Criticizes AAP Government Over Delay in Tabling CAG Reports
New Delhi, 13th January 2025: The Delhi High Court on Monday criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government for its handling of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports. The court remarked, “Your actions raise doubts about your intentions,” accusing the government of delaying processes to avoid convening the assembly session.
Justice Sachin Datta, heading the single-judge bench, stated that the government had deliberately stalled proceedings, noting, “You should have forwarded the reports to the Speaker without delay and facilitated a discussion in the House. The timeline shows a deliberate attempt to hinder the session.”
The Delhi government responded by questioning the feasibility of holding sessions during the election period. At an earlier hearing, the Delhi Assembly Secretariat argued that tabling the CAG reports was unnecessary since the assembly’s term concludes in February.
The case stemmed from a petition filed by seven BJP MLAs demanding that the CAG reports on city administration be presented in the assembly. The Delhi High Court had previously sought responses from the Delhi government, the Speaker, and other concerned parties regarding the petition.
The Delhi government informed the court that all 14 CAG reports had been forwarded to the Speaker. However, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, representing the petitioners, contended that as a legislator, he had the right to access and debate these reports. He urged the court to instruct the Speaker to convene a special assembly session. The court, however, refrained from issuing immediate directives, stating that a decision would require hearing both sides.
The Delhi government dismissed the petition as politically motivated and indicated its intent to file a counter-affidavit. Gupta’s counsel countered this claim, asserting that the matter pertained to government accountability and required resolution before election announcements.
