SC Judges To Contribute Rs. 25,000 Each To Kerala Flood Relief Fund [Read Circular]

Supreme Court judges are set to contribute Rs. 25,000 each to the Kerala flood relief fund.

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had earlier today accepted the suggestion made by Attorney General for India KK Venugopal that the fine imposed on one of the litigants be diverted towards relief fund for Kerala.

“Kerala has been battered and bruised.. it will take ten years to recover. When we go back the houses which were there is no longer exists. Scores of houses washed away. The destruction is huge. The situation is really bad,” the AG had told the bench, adding, let the “fine amount go to the relief funds”.

Agreeing to the suggestion, the CJI had also assured Mr. Venugopal that Supreme Court judges will be individually contributing to the fund.

As per a circular now issued by the Administrative side of the Supreme Court, individual donations would be made towards Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund by all the judges. The circular said:

“Unprecedented floods due to incessant rain have created havoc in the State of Kerala causing immeasurable misery and devastation. Many precious lives have been lost, thousands of people rendered homeless and property worth crores has been destroyed. Never before the State has witnessed a calamity of such a huge magnitude. Besides relief work, there is the daunting challenge of rehabilitation, reconstruction and restoration of infrastructure. In this hour of need, even a small contribution would go long way in the quick rehabilitation of those affected.

Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India and Hon’ble Judges have decided to contribute Rs. 25, 000 each for the State of Kerala voluntarily to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund, Kerala for the said purpose(sic).”

The circular directs the judges to issue cheques in favour of “Principal Secretary (Finance) CMDRF Kerala” and send the same to Mr. Rajesh Kumar Goel, Registrar (Admn.J) latest by 4 September.