Delhi High Court To Hear BJP MLAs’ Petition On December 24

The Delhi High Court will actively hear a petition filed by Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and other BJP MLAs on December 24. The petition seeks directions for Delhi Chief Minister Atishi to immediately forward 14 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports to the Assembly Speaker for presentation.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had disposed of a similar petition after the Delhi government filed its response. The petitioners allege that Chief Minister Atishi, who also holds the finance portfolio, delayed sending the reports to the Speaker, depriving the Assembly and the public of the opportunity to scrutinize the government’s performance.

According to the petition, these reports, spanning 2017-2018 to 2021-2022, address critical issues such as excise duty, pollution, and finance. The BJP MLAs claim repeated attempts to engage with the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, and Assembly Speaker have yielded no results.

Lieutenant Governor’s Action

During the previous hearing, the Lieutenant Governor (LG) informed the court that the reports were approved and a special Assembly session was recommended. The LG’s affidavit stated that on December 13, 2024, he expedited the approval process under Section 48 of the Delhi NCT Government Act 1991 to prevent further delays.

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The affidavit criticized Chief Minister Atishi for allegedly delaying the matter, hindering the Assembly’s right to review executive actions. To address this, the LG ensured the immediate processing of the reports for legislative scrutiny.

Last week, a bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela acknowledged the Delhi government’s claim that the reports had been sent to the LG and subsequently returned for presentation. The court disposed of the earlier petition with instructions for timely action.

BJP’s Allegations Of Suppression

Petitioner Vijender Gupta accused the Delhi government of deliberately suppressing crucial information, violating democratic principles. The petition emphasized that withholding these reports obstructs financial transparency and accountability, raising concerns over government expenditure.

In August, Gupta escalated the issue to the President, alleging that the delay undermines the constitutional mechanism.

Implications For December 24 Hearing

As the High Court reconvenes on December 24, the petition will test the Delhi government’s commitment to ensuring transparency and upholding democratic norms. The BJP MLAs hope the court will compel Chief Minister Atishi to act promptly, allowing the Assembly to scrutinize the reports in the ongoing session.

This case underscores the importance of timely legislative oversight and highlights the growing tension between Delhi’s executive and legislative branches.