Centre vs States: Supreme Court’s View on Karnataka Drought Relief Funds Dispute

The petition claims that the central government has not provided financial assistance to the Karnataka government in response to a drought affecting multiple districts. The petition also asserts that the failure to disburse funds has violated the fundamental rights of the people in the southern state. The state government has raised concerns that the center has not taken action on a drought-related disaster report for almost six months, further exacerbating the situation by withholding NDRF benefits. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, highlighted that the center was obligated to act on the report within a month of its submission.

In response, the central government questioned the timing of the state’s approach to the Supreme Court, particularly with the upcoming Lok Sabha election, suggesting that the state should have first engaged the Prime Minister’s government. The issue of fund disbursal and tax devolution between the central government and southern states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, has been a point of contention, especially in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election. The Karnataka petition followed Tamil Nadu’s request for an interim relief package for flood-affected districts, indicating growing tensions between the states and the center regarding financial assistance. The situation reflects ongoing disputes between the center and the states, particularly in the southern region, with each party advocating for their respective positions, as per the recommendations of the Finance Commission.