“We are not blaming the Centre for it…there has been no delay from LG’s side,” Delhi finance minister Atishi told the assembly Thursday.
The budget is a fundamental component of any constitutional democracy. It tells us where the money is coming from and how the government intends to spend it. It’s bizarre that the state budget wasn’t ready for tabling in an assembly session called specifically for the same. All sides involved must not only ensure that it is tabled at the earliest, but also never delayed again.
Govt said MHA’s approval and presidential assent might take 10-15 days, which made Atishi propose extending the budget session, which began on Thursday, until Feb-end or March first week. “I estimate that the budget won’t be presented before Feb 25,” Atishi said.
Budget delay: House passes proposal to extend session
AAP govt had called the six-day budget session from Thursday to present its 10th budget. Though no specific dates were announced earlier, govt sources had said the outcome budget and the economic survey would be tabled Feb 16 while the budget was likely to be presented Feb 19.
As the budget is yet to be sent to MHA, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, on Atishi’s request, extended the session till March first week, but no fresh date for tabling the budget has been given.
Constitutional experts said it was unheard of that budget tabling had to be postponed.
“The primary function of a legislature in a democratic set-up is to pass the budget for govt. Not presenting the budget on the scheduled date is a massive slip-up. Ideally, the session should have been called only after the budget was approved by MHA,” constitutional expert S K Sharma said. Being a Union territory with a legislature, Delhi sends its budget to MHA after getting LG’s approval. It is presented before the assembly only after presidential approval. Sources said it takes MHA at least seven working days to give its approval unless it has some queries, like last year.
“We received LG Sahib’s approval on Feb 14. The budget was passed by the cabinet on Feb 11, and on Feb 13 it was sent to LG for his assent. Today (Feb 15) the budget will be sent to MHA,” Atishi said.
Govt didn’t give any clarity as to when it was going to table the outcome budget and economic survey.
Earlier, CM Arvind Kejriwal proposed the election of financial committees with the permission of the speaker, which was passed by a voice vote.