In a setback to three private discoms, the Delhi High Court on Friday refused to stay the city Government’s decision asking the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India to audit their accounts.
“This court is of the view that these matters require detailed hearing. However, the prayer for the stay on the audit/impugned order (of Delhi Government) is declined,” said the court. Justice Manmohan on Friday also said, “The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India shall not submit the report (to the government) till March 19, next date of hearing.”
The Court’s refusal to grant a stay came as a setback for the three power discoms and the order has pumped up the AAP-led Government and the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) alike. With the ‘terms of reference’ being communicated to the discoms on Thursday, officials from the CAG’s office are likely to begin the audit Monday onwards.
The audit will be done under five sections — billing, surplus power, capital expenditure, regulatory assets and power purchase, said sources in the power department. “All the three discoms received letters on Thursday in which the scope of the audit is clearly mentioned and elaborated,” informed a Government official.
After much delay, the three discoms — Tata Power Delhi Distribution ltd, BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna Power limited are expected to finally appoint their nodal officers on Monday. Soon after, CAG officials will be meeting them to collect documents of these private entities, said sources. The court asked the Delhi Government to file reply to the pleas within two weeks and CAG would file its response within a month. The court also asked BSES Rajdhani Power ltd, BSES Yamuna Power ltd of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and Tata Power Delhi Distribution ltd to cooperate with CAG in auditing and asked the top auditor not to submit its report till it hears the discoms’ petitions on March 19.