"You have to be arm-twisted to pay money that you are obligated to": SC to Delhi government over fund release for RRTS

New Delhi [India], November 28 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned Delhi government for not providing the full amount of its share of funds for Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project and observing that it has to be "arm-twisted" to pay money that it is obligated to.
A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia was informed that only a portion of the funds had been disbursed by the Delhi government.
To this, the bench court said, "There can be no question of partial compliance. Complete compliance must take place."
On the last date of the hearing, the apex court slammed the Delhi government for a breach of an undertaking given to it to provide funds for the RRTS project and directed it to transfer the funds meant for advertising to the project.
It, however, had put its order in abeyance for a week and said that its order would come into force if did not provide the required funds for the project.
While hearing an application filed by NCRTC against not releasing the funds for the project despite the court's order, the Delhi government today told the bench that 415 crores have been transferred.
"What you have to pay you have to pay," the bench told Delhi government.
Justice Kaul further observed, "The problem is you have to be arm-twisted to pay money that you are obligated to."
The apex court now posted the matter for hearing on hearing December 7.
Last week the bench had pulled up Delhi's AAP government and warned it of attaching its advertisement budget.
Expressing disappointment with the stand of the Delhi government, the apex court observed that there was a "gross breach" of the assurances given by the Delhi government.
It said in April, the apex court had specifically mentioned that the balance amount payable by the Delhi government to be paid promptly for timely implementation of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, Delhi-Alwar corridor and Delhi- Panipat corridor.
Hearing the case last week, the bench noted that the budgetary allocation for advertisements for the last three years was almost Rs 1100 crores and for this financial year is Rs 550 crores.
In its application, National Capital Regional Transport Corporation (NCRTC) the apex court had directed the Delhi government to contribute to the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Project Rs 500 crores within ten days.
However, there is still a balanced amount of Rs 415 crores left. The Delhi government in spite of a delay of more than six months since the order dated April 21, 2023, was passed by the apex court has released only an amount of Rs 80 crores against the due amount which is highly disturbing/discouraging and clear non-compliance of the order passed by this court, the application stated.
It added that giving early approval and making budgetary provisions for the Delhi-Alwar corridor and Delhi-Panipat corridor and release of the instalment amount of Rs 100 and 50 crores respectively for these corridors for the financial year 2023-24 is pending.