Read Time: 04 minutes

Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday deferred hearing BJP leader Abhay Verma's plea seeking directions to the Delhi government to reconstitute the Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board.

Verma is Member of Legislative Assembly from the Laxmi Nagar area in Delhi. A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad deferred hearing and listed the matter for March 1, 2023.

The plea submitted that the Delhi Government constituted the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board in March 1994 to secure the planned growth of the Trans Yamuna Area and to reduce the disparity in its development as compared to other parts of Delhi.

In the year 2020, Verma was elected as a Member of Legislative Assembly from Laxmi Nagar constituency, which is one of the assembly constituencies falling within the precincts of Trans Yamuna and hence mandatorily ought to be a member of the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board, the plea added.

Additionally, the plea submitted that as per the annual budget allocation, made in the general budget of Delhi, there is an allocation of funds at Rs. 100 Crores annually to the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board, as such each MLA in the trans-Yamuna area is entitled to an additional budget of Rs. 10 Crores annually, to be spent in his constituency, for development work.

It further submitted that "unfortunately and for the reasons best known to the respondents, this time the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board has not been constituted; as a result, the funds for the year 2020-21; 2021-2022 could not be utilised."

The plea alleged that as a result of non-constitution of the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board, infrastructure development in the Trans Yamuna area is lacking.

In view of the above, the plea sought reconstitution of the Trans Yamuna Area Development Board "so that the development work in trans-Yamuna area can be properly carried out". 

Case Title: Abhay Verma Vs. Lt. Governor of Delhi & Ors.