Bengaluru : The Karnataka High Court on Monday expressed concern over the state government diverting Rs 12.30 crore from Muzrai Department for disaster relief fund.

Hearing a public interest litigation by senior citizens Hema Naidu and V R Sampath, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice S G Pandit came down heavily on the government.

“Did you request the public to contribute to the relief fund or force them,” the bench asked advocate for the government S H Prashant.

The bench also demanded to know the basis on which 81 temples across the state were chosen as contributors.

“Under what rule is this (diversion of money) allowed,” the court asked.

The applicants have challenged the August 21 notification by the state government which directed some temples to contribute certain amount of money to the Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.