HC order against CAG audit of Delhi discoms: Probe blames LG

New Delhi :A one-member probe committee, appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal government, has blamed the Lt Governor’s rule in the national capital region last year for the Delhi High Court order against CAG audit of power distribution companies.

Senior Standing Counsel Rahul Mehra, who headed the probe, said in his report that though Delhi government was represented formally, but was not represented effectively by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung during President rule.

On November 2, Power Minister Satyendar Jain had ordered an inquiry to ascertain whether the Delhi administration was effectively represented in the High Court in the case filed by discoms challenging the CAG audit during the President’s Rule.

The government is now contemplating to engage prominent advocates to make a strong case in the Supreme Court.

“Proceedings held on various dates during the period (February 2014 to February, 2015) as indicated in the order sheet as also in the judgement dated October 30, 2015 finds no submission, if any, made by counsels/senior counsels appearing for the GNCTD.

“Therefore, it is inferred that, the GNCTD though represented formally, but was not represented effectively during this crucial period of hearing of the petitions by Honourable Division Bench of High Court of Delhi,” Mehra also said in his report.

On October 30, the Delhi High Court had quashed the AAP government’s decision to get the accounts of three private power distribution companies audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

PTI