Delhi LG Raises Alarm Over Delayed CAG Reports, Calls for Special Legislative Session on December 19-20

New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, raised critical concerns on Wednesday regarding the Delhi government's inaction in presenting the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports. He has called for a special session on December 19-20 before the Legislative Assembly.

The communication emphasizes the constitutional duty of the elected government to maintain transparency and accountability, highlighting the necessity of laying the statutory audit reports before the legislature.

VK Saxena initiated his letter by pointing out the substantial public significance of the matter, reminding Chief Minister Atishi of her responsibilities as an elected official.

He indicated that according to constitutional mandates, it is the government's obligation to present the CAG audit reports to the Legislative Assembly. These reports are essential to the accountability framework, intended to ensure that the operations of government departments are scrutinized and that public funds are utilized effectively.

“I trust that as the elected Chief Minister of Delhi, you recognize the importance of statutory audits on the operations of various departments conducted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India,” Saxena conveyed.

He further reminded the Chief Minister that it has been two years since these reports were withheld, despite repeated reminders sent to both Atishi and her predecessor.

Saxena expressed disappointment that an administration that came into power on a promise of transparency has opted for opacity in disclosure by intentionally neglecting to present these reports to the Assembly.

The letter from the L-G noted that there are currently fourteen CAG reports, covering various departments of the Delhi government, that remain unpublished.

Saxena described this situation as a 'conscious and deliberate lapse' on the part of the government, a failure that has reached a level where some Members of the Legislative Assembly had to approach the Delhi High Court to assert their constitutional rights. This, he stated, is a significant blow to the dignity of the legislature, the body that represents the will of the people.

He also mentioned that it was only after the Delhi High Court acknowledged the issue that the Delhi government took action.

In his letter, he recounted how the government finally sent the CAG reports to him for approval on December 13, 2024, just prior to a hearing on the matter in the Delhi High Court. Saxena swiftly returned the reports with his approval for them to be presented to the Legislative Assembly.

In a recent development, Saxena referred to a ruling from the Delhi High Court on December 16, 2024, in the case of Vijender Gupta and others vs. GNCTD and others. The court had recorded an assurance from the Delhi government's counsel, Senior Advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, that the CAG reports would be sent to the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly within two to three days.

Saxena expressed concern over the limited number of sessions held by the Delhi government in the past five years.

“Typically, any legislature, including the Parliament of India, convenes at least three sessions a year, in addition to special sessions,” he noted.

However, under the current administration, Delhi has only held five sessions in the last five years, with the latest session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly adjourned sine die on December 4, 2024.

Given the urgency of the situation and the impending end of the current Assembly's term in February 2025, Saxena urged Chief Minister Atishi to consult with the Speaker of the Assembly to call for a special meeting to present the CAG reports before the House.

Saxena emphasized that immediate action is necessary to maintain the integrity of legislative accountability. He concluded his letter by stating that he was sharing a copy of the communication with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Leader of the Opposition, highlighting the bipartisan nature of the call for transparency.

As elections for the Delhi Legislative Assembly approach, the management of this issue is likely to become a focal point in political campaigns.