SC asks staffers to donate one day's salary for Kerala flood victims

The Supreme Court registry has asked its staffers to voluntarily donate their one day's salary to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund for rehabilitation of Kerala flood victims.

Apex court Registrar R K Goel, in a circular, said unprecedented floods due to incessant rain have created havoc in Kerala and the apex court staffers may volunteer to donate their one day's salary for the cause to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.

"Unprecedented floods due to incessant rain have created havoc in the state of Kerala causing immeasurable misery and devastation. Many precious lives have been lost, thousands of people rendered homeless and property worth crores (of rupees) have been destroyed," the circular said.

It said the money would be deducted from the salary and the persons, who do not want to donate, will have to apprise the accounts department about their decision.

Earlier, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had said that 25 Supreme Court judges would contribute Rs 25,000 each in the relief fund.

Attorney General K K Venugopal has contributed Rs one crore to the fund.

Apex court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, who hails from the flood-ravaged state, has been active in ensuring and arranging relief materials for the state.

Venugopal's son and senior advocate Krishnan Venugopal also contributed Rs 15 lakh towards the relief fund.

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi has announced a contribution of Rs 50 lakh to the flood-ravaged state.

A group of Delhi-based Malayali lawyers had earlier initiated a collection drive and dispatched eight truck-load full of necessary supplies including clothes for victims, sanitary napkins, candles, baby food, mugs, buckets, biscuits, water bottles, medicines, soaps, etc. in a Navy aircraft.

Justice Joseph had actively taken part in the collection drive in support of the lawyers collecting supplies at the flood relief collection point near the apex court.

He had also contributed a significant amount for flood relief activities for Kerala.

Senior lawyer Jaideep Singh contributed Rs five lakh towards the distress relief fund.

Another senior advocate Chander Uday Singh has also reportedly contributed Rs five lakh.

Earlier, on August 16, the Supreme Court Bar Association has donated Rs 30 lakh from its Calamity Relief Fund.

The deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century has claimed over 231 lives since August 8.

As per official records, over 10 lakh people have been displaced.

Kerala has been receiving financial aid from various state governments across the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had visited the state on August 18 declared an assistance of Rs 500 crore for the state.