ECI has allowed Centre to assist Karnataka with drought relief: Centre informs Supreme Court
New Delhi: The Central government informed the Supreme Court on Monday that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has authorised it to provide assistance to Karnataka to address the ongoing drought situation in certain areas of the state.
A Bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta adjourned the matter after Attorney General of India R Venkataramani assured that the issue would be promptly addressed.
"No arguments are needed at this time," the AG stated, further mentioning that there would be progress in the matter by Monday.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the State of Karnataka, did not oppose the request for adjournment. The Court emphasised the need for an amicable resolution, stating, "Given this is a federal structure."
The Bench was considering a plea by the Karnataka government alleging that the Central government had failed to provide financial assistance to the State under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The State's plea highlighted that it had been forced to approach the top court due to the Central government's alleged arbitrary actions, which had led to violations of the fundamental rights of the people of Karnataka.
The Union government had not yet acted upon an Inter-Ministerial Central Team report on the disaster for nearly six months, exacerbating the situation due to the withholding of NDRF benefits to the State, as per the submissions made in court.
In a previous hearing, the Court had stressed the need to avoid conflicts between the Union and State governments.
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BJP slams move to make CM Siddaramaiah as RDPR varsity chancellor replacing Guv
Bengaluru (PTI): Opposition BJP on Friday condemned the government's move to make the chief minister the chancellor of the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University replacing the governor, terming it as an attempt to pollute the higher education system.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra said this attempt to cut down on the powers of the governor is a conspiracy to upset the constitutional system.
The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved a bill, according to which the chief minister will be appointed as the chancellor, replacing the governor at the RDPR University in Gadag.
The governor is the chancellor for all public universities in Karnataka.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot currently holds the post.
"With a good intention that politics should not mix in education and as per the intent of the constitution, the Governor who is also the constitutional head of the state is the chancellor of the universities. But the government led by Siddaramaiah (CM), which is engaged in a series of corruption, by abusing its existing powers, is trying to pollute the higher education system," Vijayendra posted on 'X'.
He said the government's move will allow "unnecessary political interference" in the field of rural development studies.
"The Congress government, which has been impatient towards the governor since the beginning, sees him as an enemy to cut down on the powers, and it is a conspiracy to upset the constitutional system. This move of the state government is highly condemnable," he added.
Earlier in September, the cabinet, at a meeting held in Kalaburagi, decided to divest the governor of the power to appoint the vice-chancellor of RDPR University.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil on Thursday defended the government's move and said, "It will make the university more active and quick decisions will be taken...this system is there in many states, including Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh."
