The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the government to submit the state's SDRF utilisation certificate before requesting additional funds from the Centre for immediate assistance in connection with the recent Wayanad landslides. The Court orally stated that the State must provide an executive summary of past expenses, anticipated future costs, and a utlisation certificate from a valid authority to show how the funds were used.

The bench, led by Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice Easwaran S, emphasised that the State must justify its need for additional assistance. The Court noted that the State has Rs 61.53 crore remaining in its State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) after accounting for previous commitments totalling Rs 638.97 crore.

"This is a trust issue, trust deficit. You have to overcome this," the court said. It compared the process to a bank releasing funds in stages, requiring the State to prove how money has been spent and what commitments have been made, reported LiveLaw.

The Court acknowledged that the situation was an emergency and stressed the importance of cooperative federalism, urging both the Centre and State to communicate effectively. It stated that exceptions must be made in emergencies, and the Court is willing to facilitate discussions between the two governments.

The Court has asked the State to submit a statement detailing prior commitments and providing utilisation certificates. It also clarified that additional financial aid from the Centre can only be requested if the State proves it lacks sufficient funds. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing next week.