NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Monday, asked the state government and the Centre to not compete with each other as it heard the writ petition filed by the Karnataka government alleging that the Centre was denying it financial assistance for drought management.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, Sandeep Mehta, AG R Venkataramani, and SG Tushar Mehta heard the case.Justice Gavai said, “Let there not be a contest between the Union and the state” and also remarked that the Court was seeing various states approaching it for relief, Live Law reported.
While hearing the case, Sr Adv Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karnataka said that the central government is required to take a final decision on the assistance to the State from the NDRF within a month of the receipt of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
However, that period was over in December, 2023. He also pointed out that the Election Commission was sought to be made a party.
Meanwhile, Mehta said instead of filing a petition in the top court, if somebody would have spoken to the authorities on the issue, the problem could have been resolved.
Mehta said, “I don’t wish to say why, but this is a growing tendency…”. When the bench orally said it would issue notice to the Centre, the solicitor general said, “Your lordships may not issue notice. It also becomes news. We are here”.
The bench posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.
The petition also requested a declaration that the Center’s failure to release funds for drought relief in accordance with the NDRF constituted a “ex-facie violative” of the state’s citizens’ fundamental rights as stated in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
According to the report, the state is experiencing a “severe drought” that is negatively impacting the lives of its citizens. For the Kharif 2023 season, which runs from June to September, 223 out of 236 taluks have been designated as being affected by the drought.
According to the appeal, 27 taluks are classified as moderately afflicted and 196 as badly affected.
“Cumulatively for kharif 2023 season, the agriculture and horticulture crop loss have been reported in more than 48 lakh hectares with the estimated loss (cost of cultivation) of Rs 35,162 crore,” the plea, filed through advocate D L Chidananda, said.
It said the assistance sought from Government of India under the NDRF is Rs 18,171.44 crore.
(With inputs from agency)
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai, Sandeep Mehta, AG R Venkataramani, and SG Tushar Mehta heard the case.Justice Gavai said, “Let there not be a contest between the Union and the state” and also remarked that the Court was seeing various states approaching it for relief, Live Law reported.
While hearing the case, Sr Adv Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karnataka said that the central government is required to take a final decision on the assistance to the State from the NDRF within a month of the receipt of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT).
However, that period was over in December, 2023. He also pointed out that the Election Commission was sought to be made a party.
Meanwhile, Mehta said instead of filing a petition in the top court, if somebody would have spoken to the authorities on the issue, the problem could have been resolved.
Mehta said, “I don’t wish to say why, but this is a growing tendency…”. When the bench orally said it would issue notice to the Centre, the solicitor general said, “Your lordships may not issue notice. It also becomes news. We are here”.
The bench posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.
The petition also requested a declaration that the Center’s failure to release funds for drought relief in accordance with the NDRF constituted a “ex-facie violative” of the state’s citizens’ fundamental rights as stated in Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
According to the report, the state is experiencing a “severe drought” that is negatively impacting the lives of its citizens. For the Kharif 2023 season, which runs from June to September, 223 out of 236 taluks have been designated as being affected by the drought.
According to the appeal, 27 taluks are classified as moderately afflicted and 196 as badly affected.
“Cumulatively for kharif 2023 season, the agriculture and horticulture crop loss have been reported in more than 48 lakh hectares with the estimated loss (cost of cultivation) of Rs 35,162 crore,” the plea, filed through advocate D L Chidananda, said.
It said the assistance sought from Government of India under the NDRF is Rs 18,171.44 crore.
(With inputs from agency)
