Evolving a 'single-window system' for clearing government lawyers dues: Delhi government tells High Court

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi government to clear the pending fees of government lawyers that became due six months ago (Piyush Gupta v. GNCTD & Ors)..A Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh also granted the government more time to evolve a 'single-window system' for clearing the dues."When the matter is called out, no one appears for the petitioner (Piyush Gupta). Moreover, counsel for Delhi government seeks time for evolving a methodology of a single-window system for tendering and payment of bills. Prayer for time is granted."The Court also orally expressed,"If a bill was filed 6 months ago, that has to be cleared."The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 30..Appearing for the Central government, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma submitted,"As far as the Central government is concerned, maximum pendency has been cleared. The budget for the year 2021-22 was about Rs.10 crore, out of which only 8 crore was utilized. A budgetary ceiling relaxation has also been sought and the same is awaited. The Central government has substantially complied with the Court's direction."Standing Counsel for the Delhi government Santosh Kumar Tripathi said,"Bills have been cleared by many departments. However, there are still a few others where bills are pending. We are expecting them to clear it soon. We are also devising a common online platform for the clearance of bills. About 2-3 weeks more are required for this purpose. Currently there exists no 'single window system', it has to be cleared by 10-15 different departments. We are also victims of the same."Advocate Naushad Khan confirmed this, and added, "Currently 600 bills are pending. With the 'single-window system', counsel can submit the bills at one place. Until now, the bills go from Patwari to Secretary. Traversing between these 10-15 departments, the bills get lost in the system and thereafter become unclaimable.".The Court was hearing a plea preferred by Advocate Piyush Gupta, who is also the co-Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi.The petition had highlighted the issue of non-payment of dues to advocates on government panels. It was asserted that professional bills raised by these advocates had not been cleared for several months..Delhi HC directs clearance of professional bills that were raised by government counsel on or before February 1, 2020 .On a previous date of hearing, the Court was also informed that as per an order passed in 2015, government bodies were under an obligation to clear professional dues of empanelled advocates within two months of the bill being raised.In response, the Delhi government had stated that it had decided to open an "online window module" to enable its standing counsel to upload their bills online.The Court, however, had expressed its displeasure at the situation and warned the officials concerned of consequences of non-compliance. The Court had suggested that the bills raised prior to six months should at least be paid at the earliest by the Delhi government. The Central government had also stated that it would open a similar module for its standing counsel.After hearing the parties then, the Court had acknowledged the lack of revenue with the government bodies due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 and had thereafter proceeded to direct that the bills raised prior to February 1, 2020 be cleared within four weeks..Put your house in order: Delhi HC tells Govt as it hears Public Prosecutor plea for clearance of dues from last eight years.Initially, the direction was issued only with respect to the Delhi government. However, on a request made by other empanelled counsel, the Court had directed all respondents, including East Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Development Authority, as well as the Central government, to clear dues pending for more than six months, within four weeks.The Court had also assured the empanelled counsel that the professional dues for the remaining period will also be taken care of.