‘If Rs 1,100 Crore Can Be Spent For Advertisements, Contribution Can Be Made To Infra Projects’: SC Directs Delhi Govt On RRTS

The Supreme Court on 24 July accepted the submission of the Delhi government that it would make budgetary provisions for making contributions towards the regional rapid transit system (RRTS) project.

In the previous hearing, the court was told that the Delhi government is not making any contribution towards the RRTS project due to certain budgetary constraints.

Thereafter, the Delhi government was directed to file an affidavit disclosing the funds the government has used for advertisements in the last three years.

As per the affidavit filed by the government, it states that around Rs 1,073 crore were spent on advertisements.

The bench comprising of Justices SK Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia stated that, “We were constrained to pass the last order only on account of the fact that the Delhi Government had thrown its hand up for contributing their proportionate amounts.”

"However," it noted, “if Rs 1,100 crore can be spent for advertisement in the last three financial years, certainly, contributions can be made to infrastructure projects.”

After being informed about the budgetary allocation towards advertisements, the bench strenuously stated, “Either you pay or we will attach your advertisement budget”.

The Delhi government has however, assured that it would make the payment in instalments spread over a reasonable period of time. The bench has also directed the government to pay the overdue amount.