New Delhi: SC dismisses PIL seeking postponement of Union Budget on the ground of upcoming Assembly polls in five states. The court said there is no illustration to support that the presentation of Union Budget would influence voters’ mind in state elections.
A PIL filed by advocate ML Sharma wants the Centre to present the Budget in the financial year 2017-18, which starts from April 1, as against the proposed date of February 1.
The Narendra Modi government had decided to present the Union Budget for the financial year 2017-18 on February 1.
Breaking away from a 92-year-old practice, the Railway Budget will be presented as part of the Union Budget.
On January 4, the Election Commission announced the dates for Assembly elections in five states–Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab. While Goa and Punjab will vote on February 4, in Uttar Pradesh election will be held in seven phases from February 11 to March 8. Manipur will vote in two phases on March 4 and March 8, while Uttarakhand will go to polls on February 15.
