“Won’t Say It Again And Again”: Supreme Court issues stern warning to Delhi Government over funding delays

The Supreme Court strongly admonished the Delhi government on Tuesday for delays in disbursing its ₹500 crore share for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), a semi-high-speed rail corridor linking Meerut, Alwar, and Panipat. Justices SK Kaul and S Dhulia stressed the obligation to pay, stating, “Pay what you have to…,” after the Delhi government, claiming full payment, released ₹415 crore last week. Despite assurances of compliance, the court demanded “absolute compliance” and scheduled a Saturday hearing.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the court warned the Delhi government against taking orders for granted, threatening to divert funds from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party’s ad spending if the ₹415 crore was not promptly paid.

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As today’s hearing unfolded, Justice Kaul sought documentation proving compliance, to which the Delhi government claimed “some transfers.” However, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation argued for only partial compliance, highlighting four months of delay.

The court dismissed queries about payments for other projects, emphasizing the specific issue of compliance with their order. The court had earlier sought records of the AAP’s ad spending over three years after the Delhi government expressed financial constraints.

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On July 24, the court noted the Delhi government’s expenditure of over ₹1,000 crore on ads in the last three financial years, instructing them to provide ₹415 crore within two months. Last week, the Delhi government assured the court of complete payment.

The RRTS project, costing nearly ₹32,000 crore for an 82-km stretch, aims to connect Delhi to Alwar, Panipat, and Meerut, with 13 km within the national capital. The project is overseen by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation, a center-state collaboration.