Next hearing on September 16, 2026, after the Gauhati High Court sought the Assam government’s response to a PIL raising concerns over fiscal discipline and rising debt
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has sought a response from the Assam government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging serious violations of the Assam Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (AFRBM) Act, 2005, and raising concerns over the state’s growing debt burden.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Arun Dev Choudhury admitted the petition and directed the government to file its reply. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 16.
Filed by advocate Reetam Singh, the PIL alleges that the state has repeatedly failed to adhere to key fiscal targets mandated under the AFRBM Act, including maintaining the fiscal deficit within 3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), eliminating revenue deficits and ensuring prudent debt management.
The petition also relies on observations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in multiple audit reports. It highlights that utilisation certificates worth Rs 37,991.70 crore remained pending as of March 31, 2023, and points to alleged irregularities such as fund misclassification, underutilisation of allocations and questionable accounting practices.
Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate K.N. Choudhury argued that unchecked borrowing and off-budget liabilities could adversely impact public finances and accountability.
While hearing the matter, the bench reportedly observed that the issue was “real and concerning,” though it expressed caution regarding the scope of judicial intervention.
The PIL seeks strict enforcement of fiscal responsibility provisions, a time-bound forensic audit by the CAG and the constitution of an expert committee to examine Assam’s financial management framework.
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