• Source:JND
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Karnataka Drought Relief Fund:  Expressing concern over the increasing trends of a legal tussle between the centre and multiple state governments, the Supreme Court on Monday called on both sides to 'cooperate rather than compete.' The apex court's remarks came as the Karnataka government approached it to seek directions against the centre alleging non-issuance of the drought funds to the state. This came following a similar legal battle between the state of Kerala and the Union government over the debt ceiling.

The top court asked both sides to work on a solution, "Let there not be a contest between the union and states," the court said. This came following a writ petition by the Karnataka government for the release of drought relief funds.

Karnataka alleges rights violation

Karnataka government argued in its plea that the central government has not given money to the state during a drought in many districts. As a result, the petitioners felt they had to go to court because not giving the funds violated the basic rights of the people in the southern state. The southern Indian state further alleged that the central government did not act on an inter-ministerial team's report on the drought-related disaster for nearly six months, which was filed in October. The petitioner also said that the situation has been aggravated because of "withholding of NDRF (National Disaster Response Fund) benefits".

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Representing the state government, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal highlighted that the centre had to take action on the report within one month of receiving it.

Centre questions the timing of the plea

Refuting the claims made by the Congress-led state government, the union government questioned the timing of the plea, asking why it was filed days before the general elections. The union government also said that the state ought to have approached the centre before the top court.

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A panel consisting of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta granted Attorney General R Venkatramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the central government, two weeks to gather instructions.