The Supreme Court today made it clear to the Jammu and Kashmir government that it cannot force the Centre to take quick decisions on its demand for Rs 44,000 crore for relief and rehabilitation of flood victims.

"We cannot be forcing them to take a decision tomorrow," a bench comprising Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice A K Sikri said. "Appropriate decision will be taken by the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission," the bench said in a brief order. The state government has demanded central grant of Rs 44,000 crore for rehabilitation of flood victims.

The Centre has announced over Rs 1,700 crore assistance to the state to help the flood victims. The apex court asked the state government to apprise it of relief and rehabilitation work undertaken so far by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) in the flood-ravaged state. "You (State) should be in a position to tell us as to what has been done so far," it said.