Tamil Nadu filed a plea in the Supreme Court, accusing the Central government of withholding Rs. 37,000 crore allocated for flood relief. The state contends that this delay in fund release is detrimental to disaster management efforts. The Supreme Court is set to address the matter.
CHENNAI: Today (3rd April): The Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court challenging the non-release of relief funds for natural disasters. In an original suit filed by the state, it has requested the court direct the central government to allocate over Rs 37,000 crore in aid for the damages caused by recent floods and cyclone Maichung.
The plea argues that there is no justification for delaying the release of funds and that the differential treatment in comparison to other states amounts to class discrimination.
It further asserts that such treatment violates the fundamental rights of those affected by the calamities, causing immense hardships and irreparable losses. The plea highlights that this stepmotherly treatment violates the National Disaster Management Policy, including financial relations and the federal nature of tax division.
Despite multiple requests, the Union government has not responded positively to Tamil Nadu’s appeals for assistance.
The state approached the court to direct the Central Government to consider their representations and release Rs 19,692.69 crore as financial aid for the damage caused by cyclone Michaung in December 2023. Additionally, Rs 18,214.52 crore is being sought as an aid for the damages caused by heavy rainfall in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu in December.
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The suit emphasizes that the Central Government has failed to take action on the report submitted by an inter-ministerial team sent to assess the damage caused by the natural calamities.
This inaction is deemed illegal, arbitrary, and a violation of the fundamental rights of the people of Tamil Nadu. It has been argued that such negligence affects the state’s development and inflicts mental agony and hardships on its people.
The plea was filed on behalf of Tamil Nadu by advocate D. Kumanan and settled by senior advocate P. Wilson.
Tamil Nadu is the second state in recent times to approach the Supreme Court, accusing the central government of withholding funds for mitigating natural disasters.
“The delay in releasing funds lacks justification. The unequal distribution of funds compared to other states amounts to class discrimination. It infringes upon the fundamental rights of those affected by disasters, causing severe hardships and irreparable losses. This biased treatment contradicts the National Disaster Management Policy as well as principles of financial relations and federal tax division,” the plea stated.
Previously, the Karnataka Government filed a similar plea, alleging the non-extension of financial assistance by the central government to combat drought conditions. The Congress government in Karnataka sought relief of Rs 18,171.44 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
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