Apex court seeks material in support of plea to put off Budget

Apex court seeks material in support of plea to put off Budget NEW DELHI, JAN 13:  The Supreme Court today sought material and legal provisions in support of a PIL seeking postponement of presentation of the Union Budget due to Assembly elections in five states.“You (lawyer) tell us what provisions have been violated. Tentatively speaking, we don’t find any material in support of the

petition,” a bench comprising Chief Justice J. S. Khehar and Justice D. Y. Chandrachud said.

The bench asked lawyer M. L. Sharma to take time and prepare “hard” and come out with material in support of the PIL.

The court then fixed the PIL for further hearing on January 20.

Earlier, the bench had refused to accord urgent hearing to the plea.

The PIL has also sought a direction to strip BJP of its lotus election symbol for alleged violation of the model code of conduct which came into effect after declaration of Assembly polls in five states.

The PIL said the Centre be directed to present the Union Budget in the financial year 2017-18 which would commence from April 1, instead of the proposed February 1 date.

It also said the Centre be restrained from declaring “any relief, programme, financial budget until the states’ elections are over” as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

The Election Commission had on January 4 come out with the schedule of Assembly elections to be held in five states, including Uttar Pradesh.

×