The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V.K. Saxena, on Friday had written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressing concern over the delayed presentation of the budget.
Accusing the AAP-led Delhi government of unwarranted delays, Saxena stressed the people’s right to transparency in the utilisation of public funds.
The LG’s letter comes after the prolonged delay in addressing five CAG reports, which have been ‘pending’ with State Finance Minister Atishi since August last year. On February 15, the budget session of the Assembly was extended until the first week of March after Atishi acknowledged delays in finalising the financial statement during a session in the House.
The LG asserted that the reports from the CAG are a constitutionally mandated, independent, and impartial assessment of the government’s performance. “It is an obligation of the government of the day to share with the people, through the House, an objective account of its performance – revenue and expenditure of public funds,” Saxena wrote in his letter.
The LG urged Kejriwal to instruct the finance minister to promptly process crucial reports on state finances for presentation during the ongoing budget session of the Delhi Assembly.
Highlighting that the Centre approved the budget on February 19, three days after its submission by the Delhi government, the LG stated, ” Thereafter, the process seems to have been stalled for no apparent reason at the level of GNCTD (Government of National Capital territory of Delhi)… it will be in the fitness of things that the Annual Financial Statement (Budget), be laid, discussed and passed in the Assembly at the earliest for the benefit of people of Delhi.”
“You are accordingly requested to get the process expedited and utilise the Budget Session for what it was summoned for in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance,” he signed off.
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