'Budget Stalled For No Apparent Reason': Delhi LG Writes Letter To CM Kejriwal

The Delhi Assembly's budget session, which started on February 15, was postponed until the first week of March owing to delays in finalization.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena penned a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday, urging him to accelerate the "stalled" process of budget presentation in the Assembly. Responding, the Delhi government clarified that the budget was on its way to the LG office for approval, as reported by PTI.

"The budget was by Finance Minister Atishi with the presidential nod, around February 20. It is a financial document of utmost importance for the entire 2024-25 fiscal, so due diligence at the micro level is required, and this takes time," stated the government.

The Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly, which commenced on February 15, was extended until the first week of March due to delays in finalisation, with the finance minister citing the need for approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Initially, the Budget Session was scheduled to conclude on February 21, PTI reported.

Saxena highlighted that he addressed the Assembly on February 15, during which both the chief minister and the finance minister informed the House about the delay in the budget presentation. "I am constrained to bring to your notice that despite the Annual Financial Statement (Budget) being ready and available with the government after due clearance of the Government of India since as long as February 19, it has yet to reach me for causing it to be laid in the House as per the law established," he expressed in his letter to Kejriwal.

As per Section 27 of the Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi Act, 1991, the lieutenant governor, with prior approval from the president, is responsible for laying out the budget before the Assembly.

The LG said that the budget, received by his office on February 13, was approved by him the next day. Subsequently, it was forwarded to the MHA for the president's sanction on February 15 by the Delhi government.

"The Government of India conveyed its approval on February 19," he confirmed.

"Thereafter, the process seems to have been stalled for no apparent reason at the level of the Delhi government," further wrote the LG.

Emphasising the urgency of discussing and passing the budget in the Assembly for the welfare of Delhi's residents, he urged the chief minister to expedite the process.