HC raps AAP govt on 4th Finance recommendations

In a plea for seeking court’s intervention by all three BJP-run Delhi Municipal Corporations over the implementation of recommendation of the Fourth Finance Commission, Delhi high court has pulled up the Delhi government, saying “you did not move even a single finger.” A Bench of Chief Justices G Rohini and Jayant Nath asked the Delhi government to submit a comprehensive report on the issue of setting up a new commission as well as measures taken for releasing funds to the Corporations by July 9, fixing the date for the next hearing.  

Last week, all three BJP mayors unanimously raised their voices and asked the Delhi government to table the Fourth Finance Commission report for a discussion in the six-day Delhi budget session that concluded on June 30. 

Even the Congress <g data-gr-id="22">councillors</g> during the House and standing committee meeting, too, had extended their support in <g data-gr-id="23">favour</g> of the recommendations of the Fourth Finance Commission. Financially cash-strapped civic bodies held protests against Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government outside Vidhan Sabha recently. 

All three BJP MLAs demanded to bring the Commission’s report for discussion during the budget session, even attempted to disrupt the functioning of the session, for which they were evicted from the House by marshals for three consecutive days.                                        

On Tuesday, the Delhi government failed to convince the court that why it had failed to implement the Commission’s recommendations till date while it was submitted in 2013. 

The court said: “<g data-gr-id="20">Fourth panel</g> report was received in 2013 and till a PIL was filed on the issue in 2015, the government, ‘slept over it’.”