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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
