The Supreme Court on Wednesday nudged Kerala to meet the Centre’s team a second time and accept the ₹13,608 crore on offer to tide over the immediate financial emergency looming in the State.
“Let the Chief Secretary, Finance Secretary and the Advocate-General, with a financial adviser, meet the Central team. Take ₹13,608 crore. Make out a case for the remaining amount. Accept the conditions, except withdrawal of this suit filed in the Supreme Court, to resolve the immediate emergency,” Justice Surya Kant, heading a Bench comprising Justice K.V. Viswanthan, orally advised the State of Kerala, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate C.K. Sasi.
The first round of talks between the Centre and the State on February 14 proved inconclusive when the former insisted that Kerala withdraw its suit as a precondition for the release of ₹13,608 crore.
