AAP govt tells Delhi HC Civic bodies to get huge funds

  New Delhi: The AAP government on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that it has decided to release over Rs 600 crore and Rs 400 crore to the East and North municipal corporations (EDMC,NDMC), respectively in accordance with the recommendations of the fourth Delhi Finance Commission (DFC). 

A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao was informed by the Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra that it will release Rs 632.05 crore and Rs 450 crore to EDMC and NDMC, respectively at the earliest. The court asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit of compliance after releasing the funds to the MCDs (Municipal Corporations of Delhi) and listed the matter for January 18.
 
It said the amount could be used for paying arrears of employees' salaries and pensions. The bench was hearing a batch of writ petitions on providing adequate funds to all the local bodies, including the municipal corporations, to enable their proper functioning. 

On April 16, 2018, the court had directed the Delhi government to release the amounts according to the 4th DFC within four weeks for the period from November 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018, saying it was imperative to ensure salaries are paid and civic facilities not affected. 

The court had earlier told the AAP government that it was liable to pay the municipal corporations in the city in accordance with the recommendations of the 4th DFC. It had said if the government had objections to releasing funds as claimed by the municipal bodies under the 4th DFC, the chief secretary will have to file an affidavit indicating reasons for it. 

It had also asked the corporations to inform the Delhi government about the amount of funds they needed to pay the salaries and pensions of their employees according to the 4th DFC recommendations.