High Court seeks LG, AAP govt's response on BJP leader's plea

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today sought response from the Lieutenant Governor and AAP government on a plea by BJP leader Vijender Gupta seeking implementation of 4th Finance Commission's recommendations to improve the financial health of civic bodies.

Giving them one more opportunity, Justice V P Vaish said if the authorities concerned fail to file their counter affidavit within four weeks, their right to file a reply will be closed.

The counsel for Gupta, however, opposed the court's order granting them more time to file their replies, saying "time be given subject to cost on them, as they will not file".

To which the court said, "If they (LG and AAP government) do not file the counter, we will close their right to file replies."

Advocate Mukul Singh and Neeraj, appearing for Gupta, said that they have not filed their response since May and there is complete mess in Delhi, because of non-release of the funds to the municipal bodies here.

The central government standing counsel Ripudaman Bhardwaj submitted that the Centre need not to file its response as the funds have to be released by the Delhi government.

Meanwhile, advocate Aayushi Gupta, appearing for Delhi government, informed the court that it should hear the matter on next date as there was similar matter pending before the division bench of the court.

The court declined Delhi government's counsel request and said that the counter shall be filed before the next date of hearing on September 24.

Gupta, the leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly, has said in his plea that the 4th Finance Commission has given its report in March 2013 but it is yet to be tabled in assembly.