By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi Government on Friday said the Supreme Court’s interim order in the CAG audit dispute is a procedural measure that maintains the status quo and should not be interpreted as a clean chit for private power distribution companies (DISCOMs).
Reacting to the court’s order, Power Minister Ashish Sood said the matter has been listed for hearing on July 15, when the legal framework governing the proposed Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit will be examined in detail.
The minister said the Supreme Court had also stayed the liquidation of regulatory assets until further orders, calling it a significant relief for electricity consumers as it prevents any immediate mechanism that could potentially increase tariffs and impose an additional financial burden.
Sood maintained that the interim stay merely pauses both the proposed CAG audit and the appointment of a Chartered Accountant until the legal issues are decided. He stressed that the court has neither declared the proposed CAG audit illegal nor accepted the arguments advanced by the DISCOMs.
Reiterating the Delhi Government’s stand, the minister said the administration would defend the need for an independent CAG audit before the Supreme Court, arguing that rigorous financial scrutiny is essential to ensure transparency, accountability and protection of consumer interests.
The government claimed it is seeking to prevent a potential burden of nearly ₹38,500 crore from being passed on to electricity consumers through higher tariffs and surcharges without independent financial examination.
Sood also questioned the resistance to the proposed audit by private DISCOMs, saying that an independent constitutional audit should not face opposition if there is nothing to conceal. He added that the Delhi Government remains committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the power sector, describing the Supreme Court’s latest order as only an interim procedural step pending a final decision.
