In a bold move, the Tamil Nadu government has taken its grievances to the Supreme Court, alleging that the Central government has failed to release much-needed relief funds for natural calamities that have ravaged the state. 

The plea, filed as an original suit, paints a picture of desperation, pointing out the dire consequences of delayed assistance in the wake of recent floods and cyclone Maichung.

At the heart of the matter is a staggering sum of over ₹37,000 crore that Tamil Nadu claims is owed to them in aid for the damages caused by these disasters. The state government argues that the delay in releasing these funds is unjustifiable and tantamount to discrimination, especially when compared to the treatment received by other states facing similar challenges.

"It is unacceptable that the release of funds is being delayed, especially when the people of Tamil Nadu are grappling with the aftermath of these calamities," the plea asserts. "This differential treatment not only violates our fundamental rights but also undermines the principles of equitable financial relations and the federal nature of tax division."

Despite repeated requests, the Union government has allegedly failed to heed Tamil Nadu's pleas for assistance. The state government's petition urges the Supreme Court to intervene and issue directives to the Central government to expedite the release of the allocated funds.

The suit delineates the specific amounts sought by Tamil Nadu: ₹19,692.69 crore for the damage caused by cyclone Michaung in December 2023, and an additional ₹18,214.52 crore for the devastation wrought by unprecedented rainfall in the southern districts of the state during the same period.

Central to Tamil Nadu's argument is the purported inaction on the part of the Central government, which has yet to act on the report submitted by an inter-ministerial team tasked with assessing the damage caused by these natural calamities. 

This alleged negligence, the plea contends, is not only illegal and arbitrary but also infringes upon the fundamental rights of the people of Tamil Nadu.

"The failure to act on the ground realities is hindering our state's development and causing untold mental agony and hardships to our citizens," the plea emphasizes.

The legal battle waged by Tamil Nadu is not an isolated case. It comes on the heels of a similar move by the Karnataka government, which recently approached the Supreme Court alleging a lack of financial assistance from the Centre to combat a drought situation.

In its petition, the Congress-led government of Karnataka sought relief amounting to ₹18,171.44 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).