In a recent development, the Supreme Court criticized the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for expressing its inability to contribute funds to the construction of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. The court has directed the government to provide details of funds spent on advertisements over the past three financial years. The RRTS project aims to connect the national capital with Rajasthan and Haryana through a high-speed transit system. A bench comprising Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia has instructed the Aam Aadmi Party government to submit an affidavit within two weeks, disclosing the funds utilized for advertisements.
The court suggested diverting all advertisement funds towards the RRTS project, emphasizing its national importance. It warned that failure to comply would result in further court orders. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly seized the opportunity to criticize Chief Minister Kejriwal, alleging that the Delhi government had spent a staggering ₹1,868 crore on advertisements in the last five years. Amit Malviya, the head of BJP’s IT-cell, took to Twitter to express his disapproval, highlighting the discrepancy between the government’s claims of financial constraints and the substantial sums allocated to advertisements.
The AAP government has not yet responded to these allegations made by Malviya. However, earlier this year, the Directorate of Information & Publicity (DIP) of the Delhi government had issued a notice to the ruling party for the recovery of ₹163.62 crore, citing violations of Supreme Court guidelines from 2015. The notice warned that failure to repay the amount within 10 days could result in the sealing of the AAP headquarters. The Supreme Court’s directive to divert advertisement funds for the RRTS project reflects its emphasis on prioritizing crucial infrastructure development over promotional activities.
The court’s decision comes as a response to the Delhi government’s expressed inability to contribute funds to the common project due to a lack of financial resources. The affidavit requested by the court will provide transparency and accountability regarding the funds utilized for advertisements, shedding light on the government’s expenditure in this area. As the RRTS project holds significant national importance, the court expects the Delhi government to allocate funds accordingly. This development highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the allocation of funds for development projects versus government advertisements. The Supreme Court’s intervention in this matter aims to ensure the efficient utilization of resources for the benefit of the public and the timely completion of essential infrastructure projects.