Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 14: The Delhi High Court on Monday sharply criticized the Delhi Government for its delay in tabling Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports in the legislative Assembly. Justice Sachin Datta, in a single-judge bench, expressed serious concerns, stating, "The way you have dragged your feet raises doubts about your bona fides. You should have promptly forwarded the reports to the Speaker and initiated a discussion in the House. The timeline is clear, you have dragged your feet to prevent the session from happening."

The court's remarks came in response to a petition filed by seven BJP MLAs seeking the tabling of the CAG reports. The government, in its defense, argued that tabling the reports wouldn't serve any purpose as its term ends in February and questioned the feasibility of holding sessions with elections approaching.

The CAG report, which highlighted significant lapses in the implementation of a government policy resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 2,026 crore, has been a point of contention. The government, while stating that all reports have been sent to the Speaker, has been accused of attempting to avoid scrutiny and accountability.

The court, recognizing the importance of government transparency and the right of MLAs to debate important issues, has acknowledged the need to hear both parties before issuing any directives to the Speaker regarding a special session.

The BJP MLAs, represented by Vijender Gupta, emphasized that the issue transcends political motives and is fundamentally about ensuring government accountability. They urged the court to expedite the resolution of this matter before the election announcements.