Supreme Court defers hearing of plea to Jan 23 seeking postponement of Union Budget presentation

The Apex Court deferred the hearing of a plea seeking postponement of Union Budget presentation to January 23 ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in five states.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud, which has sought material and legal provisions in support of the PIL, preferred to go through the additional affidavit filed by the petitioner.

Advocate M L Sharma filed the PIL and also expressed his readiness to argue the matter on Monday.

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

It further added that central government be restrained from declaring any relief, programme, financial budget until the states' elections are over as they would violate the Model Code of Conduct.

Election Commission came out with schedule of Assembly elections to be held in five states, including Uttar Pradesh- the crucial one.

However, centre has already decided to convene the Budget Session of Parliament from January 31 to present the Budget for 2017-18 fiscal the very next day.

With PTI Inputs