Rajeev Sharma tells us: Why didn't the Congress party move the Supreme Court against the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1?


Because the Congress, which ruled the country for well over half a century, is well aware of an earlier apex court ruling which ruled that once the Election Commission formally announced election dates, the courts would not adjudicate on the EC's wisdom.


The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation filed by an advocate seeking postponement of the Budget till completion of assembly polls in five states.


The Supreme Court's dismissal of this petition will inevitably become the go-to judgment in the future.


The court said that election rules do not allow governments to offer giveaways or make any announcements that could skew voters towards the party in power at the Centre or in states.


The SC today said that the Union Budget has "nothing to do with states " and stressed that elections in states are held so often that they cannot impede the work of the Centre.


"Throughout the year, there may be elections in different states, so should the Centre not present the Budget?" judges asked.


The Finance Ministry began printing the budget documents last week, with Arun Jaitley going to the basement of the North Block where the printing press is situated, and participated in the halwa ceremony, a symbolic ritual that hopes to augur a sweet budget. The five state elections begin on February 4 in Punjab and Goa, followed by Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh (which votes on seven days) and Manipur. Results for all will be announced on March 11.


Image: Finance minister Arun Jaitley at the halwa ceremony last year.