Court no paves way for Budget on February 1

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23

The Supreme Court today paved the way for presentation of the Union Budget on February 1 as it dismissed a plea seeking its postponement in view of Assembly elections in five states.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar dismissed the plea after petitioner ML Sharma, a lawyer, failed to explain how the Budget would affect the electorate in the states going to polls. 

“These are state elections. What does the Union Budget have to do with it?” said Chief Justice Khehar. The Bench repeatedly asked the petitioner to point out how the process would affect the elections and the voters, but he failed to impress upon the court to change its mind.  When Sharma argued that it amounted to “violating the model code of conduct”, the Bench said “he could approach the Election Commission”. 

Departing from the age-old tradition of presenting the Budget on the last working day of February, the NDA government has decided to present it on February 1.  The EC is yet to take a final view.