'Kerala is not seeking mercy and should not be treated with stepmotherly attitude': HC lashes out at Centre

KOCHI: The High Court has strongly criticised the central government's stance that loans of Wayanad landslide victims cannot be waived. The court verbally remarked that Kerala should not be treated with a stepmotherly attitude when other states are provided with adequate central assistance for natural disasters. "Who are you trying to fool? Citizens cannot be seen as aliens. Kerala is not seeking mercy. The moratorium on foreclosures against disaster victims will continue," the High Court clarified.

The court slammed the Centre when it reiterated that there was no provision to waive off the loans of disaster victims and that the Ministry has limitations in involving itself in activities, including those of the Reserve Bank. The banks that had given the loans were made parties to the petition. A division bench comprising Justices A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Jobin Sebastian directed the banks to state their position.

The court said that the affidavit filed by Union Home Ministry Under Secretary Mrityunjay Tripathi, expressing his refusal to waive off loans, was disturbing. "This is a mockery of the officials. It was suggested that the decision should be taken using the power of the Centre. The reply is in such a way that there is no desire to take action. If so, then they should show courage to openly tell the people." The court also said that it was their magnanimity that they did not dare to give instructions to the Centre. The petitions will be considered after two weeks.

Additional central assistance for other states

The division bench, after reading the newspaper report that Assam and Gujarat were allocated Rs 707 crore for landslides, clarified that the Centre cannot evade responsibility by saying that it does not have the money. These disasters were not as serious as Wayanad. Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan was approved Rs 903 crore under the National Disaster Response Fund for the expansion and modernisation of fire services.

21.4 crores to be written off

The disaster victims have to pay 11.4 crores to Bank of Baroda, Central Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, SBI, etc., and 10 crores to Kerala Gramin Bank. Notices have been sent to these banks.

The court should also be informed why recovery is being attempted in the disaster area. Kerala Bank has written off loans worth 5.81 crores.