Delhi HC Rejects Plea For CAG Audit Of Delhi And Mumbai International Airports [Read Judgment]

The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, refused to entertain a Petition demanding an audit into the accounts of Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd. (MIAL) by the Comptroller and Auditor General of accounts.

The Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar disposed of the Petition with a direction to the Centre to treat the Petitioner’s contentions as a representation.

The Court was hearing a Petition filed by one Mr. Subodh Jain, who had further sought the constitution of a “committee to look into laws governing the audit of all Public Private Projects in the country and to suggest immediate measures to implement such rules to ensure audit of public money”.

Mr. Jain had also referred to precedents wherein the Apex Court had allowed the CAG to conduct an audit of the telecom companies whose revenues are shared with the Government and of power distribution companies in Delhi in which the Government owned stake.

The Court, however, refused to allow the plea, and observed, “It needs no elaboration that no writ directing the Government of India to legislate can possibly be issued. We also find that this writ petition has been filed without making any representation to the Government of India.” It then directed Mr. Jain to place before the Centre any other material available with him as well.