The Delhi government on Thursday once again said the series of advertisements released by it recently were meant to create public awareness about its “policies and priorities”, for which the expenditure incurred was justified. “The purpose is to reach out to as many people as possible,” it said.
In an affidavit filed before Justice V.P. Vaish of the Delhi High Court, the Delhi government’s Directorate of Information and Publicity (DIP) said the advertisements had informed the public about the policies, such as reducing corruption, electricity bills, power cuts; free water, fixing potholes, and increasing the education and health budget.
The Aam Aadmi Party government had on Monday informed the High Court in a PIL filed by Congress leader Ajay Maken that it had spent Rs. 22.33 crore on advertisements and outdoor publicity since the Supreme Court’s May 13 judgment laying down parameters for use of public funds by State on government advertisements.
The DIP said on Thursday in response to a writ petition moved by a non-government organisation, Nyaya Path, that taking economic decisions was purely within the purview of the legislature and once a budget had been passed, it was not for the petitioner to dictate terms as to what was cost effective and not.
Nyaya Path has sought stay on the AAP government’s advertisements, withdrawal of the recent television ad series, and orders for restraining the government from the “image building exercise”.
The Union government also filed its reply in the case and pointed out that the Supreme Court’s ruling that the taxpayers’ money could not be spent on building the image of political leaders was applicable to all States and Union Territories, including Delhi. Taking both the affidavits on record, the court posted the matter for further hearing on August 12.
Taking economic decisions is purely within the purview of the legislature, govt. tells High Court
