The government has commenced Budget preparations with a department-wise review and consultations with various stakeholders. The preliminary preparatory meetings, which commenced on June 13, were nearing completion.
The Legislative Assembly, on March 2, passed a vote-on-account for ₹2,703.63 crore for the first five months of fiscal 2019-20. From April, the financial affairs of the Union Territory were managed with the funds sanctioned by the Assembly for five months.
A full Budget has to be presented by August and Assembly approval obtained for expenditure till March 31. “In all likelihood, the Chief Minister will present a full Budget by the end of July or the beginning of August,” a senior official told The Hindu .
The Supreme Court, which is hearing a review petition filed by Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi against Madras High Court order clipping her powers, in an interim order on May 9 had restrained the Congress government from implementing any decision involving financial implications or transfer of officials.
SC hearing
The Supreme Court has posted the next hearing to July 10. According to the official, the government may wait for a couple of weeks to present the Budget in the Legislative Assembly.
After the consultative meetings are over, the draft outlay has to be approved by the State Planning Board, headed by Ms. Bedi, before it is sent to the Union Finance and Home Ministries for approval.
Last year, the budget session saw an intense administrative struggle between the Lieutenant Governor and the ruling Congress following the conditions put by Ms. Bedi for giving her assent for presenting the Appropriation Bill, which authorises the government to spend money for the financial year.
The outlay of ₹7,530 crore for 2018-19 was passed by the Assembly in August after the initial bickering.
