L-G flags delay in tabling of 11 CAG reports in Assembly

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 16

Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena on Friday flagged the delay in the tabling of 11 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying it was a “clear violation” of constitutional and legal provisions.

These reports, which have been pending for several months, are yet to be laid before the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Raj Niwas officials said.

‘Pending with Atishi’

According to the Controller of Accounts of the Delhi Government, all CAG reports are currently pending with Atishi. Despite repeated reminders, including a direct appeal to CM Kejriwal on February 22 by the L-G, there has been no progress in tabling these reports. — L-G office

AAP deliberately stalling reports: Congress

New Delhi: Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Devender Yadav criticised the AAP government for allegedly withholding 11 CAG reports. “It’s a shame on the ‘honest’ AAP government that the L-G had to step in and remind them of their constitutional obligations,” Yadav stated. He alleged that the government was deliberately stalling the release of the reports to avoid exposing “corruption and financial mismanagement”. TNS

In a letter to Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Saxena urged immediate action to ensure that pending reports are presented to the Assembly without further delay.

“One of the most critical reports pending is the ‘Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi’ for the period 2017-18 to 2021-22,” an official stated. The report was sent to the Delhi Government on March 4 and has been with Finance Minister Atishi since April 11, the official added.

This report is particularly significant in light of the AAP government’s controversial excise policy, which was later scrapped amid allegations of widespread corruption.

“According to the Controller of Accounts of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), all the aforementioned CAG reports are currently pending with Atishi. Despite repeated reminders, including a direct appeal to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 22 by the L-G, there has been no progress in tabling these reports,” another official noted.

“It is a constitutional mandate to lay the CAG reports on state finances and the performance of various governance sectors in Delhi, as per Article 151 of the Constitution, read with Section 48 of the Government of NCT of Delhi Act, 1991, and Regulation 210 of the Regulations on Audit and Accounts, 2007,” the officials said.

Saxena expressed serious concerns over what he termed a “gross dereliction” of constitutional duties by the Delhi Government. “By not laying the CAG reports in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the Delhi Government is avoiding scrutiny by the Assembly and the public at large, undermining the very basis of democratic accountability,” the L-G’s office added.

This is not the first time the AAP government has been accused of delaying the tabling of CAG reports. In the past, reports on the performance of the Delhi Jal Board and private power distribution companies in the Capital were also delayed for several years, only to be flagged by the L-G for inaction.

The Speaker, however, questioned the relevance of the L-G’s letter.

“There is no relevance of the letter. He should have written it to whoever has to table the report and not the Speaker,” Goel said. However, sources said the letter was forwarded to the Delhi Government.