COVID-19: Consider a larger fund pie to TN, HC tells Centre

Chennai, Apr 8 () Expressing concern over the Centreallocating Tamil Nadu only Rs 510 crore so far to fightcoronavirus, the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed it toconsider increasing the state's share. Taking a serious view of violation of the lockdown tocheck the spread of coronavirus, the court also directed thestate police to arrest those flouting the orders and seizetheir vehicles.A bench comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and RHemalatha, hearing a PIL, observed that the quantum allocatedto Tamil Nadu was lower than the apportionment to states thathave lesser COVID-19 cases. Impleading the Union Home Ministry as a respondent, thebench in its interim order said out of 5,194 people infectedby coronavirus (in the country), as on date Tamil Nadu standssecond with 690 patients, while Maharashtra stands first with1,018 patients. However, with regard to the release of Disaster RiskManagement Fund, the Home Ministry has released only 510crores which in the opinion of this court was not adequate,whereas, the states which have got lesser number of virusinfected patients have been allotted more fund, it said. "This Court is not against the allotment of more fund tothe other states, but concerned about Tamil Nadu gettinglesser amount of fund. Therefore, the Central Government maypositively consider increasing the amount," the bench said. A city-based NGO, India Awake for Transparency, filed thepublic interest litigation petition seeking a direction to theTamil Nadu government to ensure 100 per cent testing of allpeople who have been exempted from the lockdown. Pointing out to the significance of social distancing andappealing to people to stay indoors, the court directed theAdditional Advocate General Aravind Pandiyan to file a statusreport. Also, the bench directed the state government to arrestmotorists as well as seize their vehicles -two wheelers orfour wheelers- when used in violation of curbs under Section144 CrPC and if anybody comes out of their houses beyond 1 pm. The state government has allowed functioning of groceriesand other outlets vending essentials to be open only upto 1 pmin a bid to curb movement of people. The bench directed Police authorities to enquire andinform the employers of the violators (government or privatesector) about the violations by their employees and posted thematter for further hearing after two weeks. While referring to daily wagers, migrant workers andplatform dwellers who are without food and shelter, the benchin its order said the authorities are directed to verify thepersons who are without food and shelter and provide them byhaving community kitchens." Stressing that the pandemic was spreading like a wildfire, the the court also appealed to those who had travelledabroad recently and their family members and friends tosubject themselves voluntarily for testing and gettingquarantined as it would help curbing the dispersion of thevirus. COR VGNVS VS