Lt Governor Flags Delhi Govt for Delaying 11 CAG Reports

Lt Governor VK Saxena has criticized the Delhi government for not tabling 11 CAG reports in the Assembly, citing it as a violation of constitutional provisions. The pending reports, which date back to 2022, cover state finances, pollution mitigation, and other critical areas.

Lt Governor VK Saxena has raised concerns over the delay in presenting 11 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports in the Delhi Assembly, highlighting it as a 'clear violation' of constitutional and legal provisions, according to Raj Niwas officials on Friday.

In a letter to Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, Saxena pointed out that the Delhi government's failure to lay the pending CAG reports before the assembly represented a 'gross dereliction of their constitutional obligations.'

The 11 reports, covering state finances, pollution mitigation, liquor regulation, and performance audits on children in need of care, are currently pending with Delhi Finance Minister Atishi, officials noted. Some of these reports have been pending since 2022. The CAG report on 'Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi' for the period of 2017-18 to 2021-22 was sent to the Delhi government on March 4, 2024, remaining with the minister since March 11.

Officials emphasized that this report is 'critical' in light of the 'controversy' surrounding the now-canceled 2021-22 excise policy of the Delhi government. The CAG informed the LG Secretariat on July 18 that all 11 reports were still pending with the Delhi finance minister.

The lieutenant governor had also addressed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in February, urging him to advise the finance minister to present the reports to the assembly expeditiously. By delaying these reports, the Delhi government is 'avoiding scrutiny' by the legislative assembly and the public, thereby undermining democratic accountability, Saxena stated in his letter to Goel.

Saxena urged the Speaker to exercise his authority to ensure the pending reports are laid before the assembly in the upcoming session without further delay. He emphasized that depriving the assembly of its legislative control over the executive and avoiding scrutiny by the Committee on Public Accounts is a 'clear violation' of constitutional and legal provisions.