Punjab and Haryana HC slams AAP Govt for lavish Ad spend amid forensic lab funding shortfall

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sharply criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for its spending priorities, particularly in light of forensic science laboratory (FSL) funding shortages juxtaposed against lavish expenditures on government advertisements and new police vehicles. This critique came during the hearing of a bail plea related to a Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) case, highlighting systemic issues within the state’s forensic capabilities.

On January 21, 2025, during a session presided over by Justice Sandeep Moudgil, the court was hearing a bail application from Vinay Kumar, accused in an NDPS case. The court directed the Chief Secretary of Punjab to submit an affidavit detailing the state’s expenditure on advertisements and new police vehicles from April 1, 2024, to January 20, 2025. This directive was in response to the state government’s claim of budgetary constraints affecting the modernisation of forensic labs:

Justice Moudgil’s Directive: “The State Government, through its Chief Secretary, is directed to furnish a detail of expenses met out in this running financial year… on the publication of the advertisements qua the performance and achievements of the Government and the new vehicles purchased for the police officials. Necessary information to be furnished within a period of one week from today by way of an affidavit of Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab.”

The court expressed dismay at the revelation that Punjab’s FSLs, including those in Mohali, Amritsar, Bathinda, and Ludhiana, lack basic facilities for examining video evidence, which severely hampers criminal investigations.

Earlier in the case, discrepancies in Vinay Kumar’s arrest dates were contested, supported by CCTV evidence that the FSL could not analyse due to insufficient infrastructure.

The Punjab government, through various affidavits, attempted to explain the situation, mentioning allocations like Rs 99.40 lakhs for upgrading facilities in Kharar, but the court found these claims lacking credibility, calling them a “farce” since the basic equipment was still not available when needed.

The court was particularly critical of the government’s slow pace in addressing these issues, noting that despite claims of fund allocation, essential equipment for video analysis was still not in place by January 21, 2025.

Punjab faces significant financial challenges, with the highest per-capita debt in India. The state’s debt-to-GDP ratio was reported at 44.1 per cent for FY 2024-25, with a fiscal deficit of 3.8 per cent.

The court highlighted the irony of the government’s lavish spending on image management through advertisements, especially when contrasted with the dire need for forensic lab upgrades. Reports indicated that in March 2024, the AAP government spent Rs 7 crore in Ludhiana alone on promotional activities.

The state’s debt is projected to rise dramatically by the end of the AAP’s term, with critics arguing that the focus on advertisements and “freebies” has come at the expense of essential public services, like policing and infrastructure.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set a deadline of one week for the Punjab government to provide detailed financial statements, reflecting a broader critique of governance and resource allocation. The matter has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, with expectations that the government will address these concerns not only in court but through actionable policy changes.