Government can present Budget 2017 on Feb 1 but there are conditions
No policies favouring the 5 states slated to go for Assembly Elections; don't highlight achievements of the government in the five states.
The Supreme Court, on Monday, gave the government its go-ahead to present the Budget 2017 on February 1, quashing a petition for its postponement.
A lawyer, Manohar Lal Sharma had filed a petition seeking the postponement of the Budget, keeping in mind the five states that were slated to vote in the Assembly Elections which could be swayed by pro-people policies announced in the Budget.
However, the government has to stay well within the lines and adhere to the specifications laid forth by the Election Commission.
The Election Commission on Monday ordered that no state specific schemes shall be announced in national budget in the interest of free and fair elections.
It may be ensured that in the budget speech the government's achievements in respect of five poll-bound states will not be highlighted.
The government earlier in the day called for an all-party meeting on January 30 ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament.
The Supreme Court announced that the budget will be announced on February 1, as had been decided by the government.