Karnataka's Plea In Supreme Court For Drought Relief : AG & SG Agree To Get Instructions From Union Govt

In a writ petition filed by the Karnataka government alleging that the Centre was denying it financial assistance for drought management, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General told the Supreme Court today that they would get instructions from the Union Government.

The Bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, though initially inclined to issue formal notice to the Union, gave time to AG R Venkataramani and SG Tushar Mehta (who appeared on advance notice) to obtain instructions and make a statement.

During the hearing, Sr Adv Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karnataka, pressed that under law, 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.

In response, SG Mehta stated that if instead of filing a petition under Article 32, had someone spoken to the authorities on some level, the problem could have been solved.

Intervening, Gavai, J could be heard saying to the counsels, "Let there not be a contest". The judge also remarked that the Court was seeing various states approaching it for relief.

Beseeching that the matter be had after 2 weeks, SG Mehta replied, "I don't wish to say why ... it is a growing tendency which needs to be...". The SG also urged that the court may not issue formal notice, saying "it also becomes news."

Taking into consideration the request, the matter was posted to Monday after 2 weeks.

For a detailed background, click here.

Case Title: State of Karnataka v. Union of India and Ors., W.P.(C) No. 210/2024

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