Expedite clearance of pending CAG reports, L-G writes to Delhi CM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 23

Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena has urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to request Finance Minister Atishi to expedite the clearance of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) reports, which have been pending since August 2023.

Share expenditure of funds with public

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. — VK Saxena, Lieutenant-Governor

In a letter dated February 22, Saxena emphasised that as the budget session is currently underway, he urged the CM to advise the Finance Minister to swiftly process these reports, allowing them to be presented before the House without further delay.

“The CAG reports relating to the accounts of the Capital for any period subsequent to the date referred to in sub-section (1) of section 46 shall be submitted to the L-G who shall cause them to be laid before the Legislative Assembly,” he stated in the letter.

The files encompass various crucial reports, including the state finance audit reports for 2021 and 2022; performance audit on prevention and mitigation of vehicular air pollution in Delhi for 2021-22; revenue, economic, social and general sectors and PSUs for 2020-2021; and performance audit on children in need of care and protection for 2021.

He further mentioned that his Secretariat has received copies of communication from the Controller of Accounts, Principal Accounts Office (PAO), Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), addressed to the Secretary to the Finance Minister. This communication follows a letter by the Principal Accountant, General Audit, Delhi, requesting the consideration of five CAG reports and one Delhi government accounts to be cleared by the Finance Minister and forwarded to the L-G for presentation before the Legislative Assembly.

Saxena emphasised, “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 cited Section 48 of the GNCTD Act, 1991, and Article 151 of the Constitution to underscore the provision for the reports to be presented before the Assembly through the L-G.

The Delhi government said the reports will be tabled soon in the Assembly.

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