In SC, T.N. accuses Centre of delaying funds

Mr. Stalin had complained about the lack of adequate flood relief from the Centre after Prime Minister Narendra Modi commented, ahead of the election, about the Congress “callously giving away” the strategic Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka and Mr. Stalin’s party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), doing “nothing” to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests.

Tamil Nadu’s suit follows that of recent ones by Kerala and Karnataka in the Supreme Court. Kerala has accused the Centre of arbitrarily interfering in its net borrowing limits, pushing the State to the brink of a financial emergency. Karnataka has moved the Supreme Court for the release of drought relief under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

The State, represented by senior advocates P. Wilson and advocate D. Kumanan, submitted it had sent a representation to the Union as early as on December 14 last year for ₹19,692.69 crore as financial aid to tide over the extensive damage caused by the cyclone. There has been no action forthcoming from the Centre despite a representation submitted by the State on December 14, 2023 through the InterMinisterial Central Team (IMCT) of the Union Home Ministry.

Again, both Mr. Stalin and the Chief Secretary had sent representations on December 19 last year and January 10, 2024 for release of ₹18,214.52 crore to aid in the restoration and rehabilitation of lives hit by the unprecedented floods in the southern districts in December 2023. The Centre has not taken a final decision on the assistance to the State from the NDRF even after a lapse of almost three months from the date of submission of memoranda.

Tamil Nadu urged the top court to put the Centre on the clock and release the disaster funds within a specific timeframe.