The Tamil Nadu government has taken legal action by filing a lawsuit in the Supreme Court, alleging that the Centre has withheld its funds designated for handling natural disasters. Led by MK Stalin, the DMK government has utilized Article 131 of the Constitution to file an original suit against the Centre in the highest court of the land.
Article 131 grants the Supreme Court exclusive and original jurisdiction over legal disputes between states or between states and the central government, or their entities. The state government has petitioned the apex court to compel the Centre to provide over Rs 37,000 crore in assistance for the damages caused by recent floods and Cyclone Michaung.
Apart from seeking financial aid of Rs 19,692.69 crore for the damage inflicted by Cyclone Michaung in December of the previous year, the Tamil Nadu government is also requesting funds amounting to Rs 18,000 crore for losses incurred due to unprecedented rains in the southern districts of the state.
The plea further requests the Court to direct the Centre to release Rs 2,000 crore as an interim measure. Notably, the Karnataka government recently approached the Supreme Court, alleging that the Centre was failing to provide financial assistance to address challenges arising from a drought situation. It had sought directives for funds to be released from the National Disaster Response Fund.
