HC seeks AAP govt response on tabling of CAG reports

The Delhi High Court has directed the government to respond by December 9 regarding the tabling of 12 long-pending reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the Assembly. The petition was filed by Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, along with BJP legislators, who allege that the reports have been deliberately withheld by Chief Minister Atishi.

“The court’s notice to the Delhi Government is a much-needed wake-up call,” Gupta stated, calling it “a slap on its face”. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of obstructing transparency by failing to present these crucial financial documents from 2017 to 2022.

Gupta emphasised that the public has a right to be informed about the government’s financial activities and demanded a special Assembly session to table the reports immediately.

The petition highlights that these 12 CAG reports have remained unaddressed despite repeated reminders from the CAG office to the Finance Deprtment, the Assembly Speaker and the Chief Minister. Gupta asserted, “The government has not provided any valid reason for this delay and is hiding behind bureaucratic excuses.”

The BJP legislators, including Mohan Singh Bisht, Om Prakash Sharma and others, expressed frustration over their attempts to raise the issue in the Assembly, stating they were expelled when they sought to discuss the reports. Gupta also pointed out that a letter sent on October 17 by the Chief Accountant’s Office underscored the legal obligation of the Delhi Government to table these reports.

“The 12 CAG reports are vital for assessing our financial and administrative status. We were left with no choice but to seek judicial intervention due to the government’s indifference,” Gupta said.