25 yrs after split, CG demands Rs 10k cr from MP in liabilities

Bhopal: More than 25 years to the split motivated largely by regional goals and statehood aspirations, Chhattisgarh is demanding separation money of sorts from Madhya Pradesh.A year after marking the silver jubilee of its recognition as a separate state carved out of MP, the Chhattisgarh government has come to realise that it has yet to stake claim to funds, totalling in excess of Rs 10,000 crore, that is due from its parent state.During the assembly session on February 27, the Madhya Pradesh govt informed the House that the incumbent BJP regime in Chhattisgarh has formally written to the state, demanding unclaimed funds to the tune of Rs 10,133 crore.Addressing the House, MP deputy chief minister Jagdish Devda, who also heads the finance department, confirmed the amount that Chhattisgarh has staked a claim for, saying the liability arose due to the re-verification (audit/review) of pension liability payments conducted by the neighbouring govt.Devda informed that a joint working group of officers from both the states has been constituted to resolve the issue.The matter came to light after the leader of opposition in the House, Umang Singhar, put across a question to Devda. The LOP asked how much of pending pension amount was to be paid to government employees, who chose to go with Chhattisgarh at the time of separation in 2000 and retired in the neighbouring state.The Congress MLA also sought clarification on whether Chhattisgarh has formally placed a demand of Rs 10,000 cr to MP, and, if so, when was the official communication or correspondence on the same received by the state finance department. The LoP also asked the Treasury to come clean on the reasons why the liability arose in the first place, if the matter was being examined at top government levels, and, if so, what were the conclusions.In a written reply to the question, Devda stated, "According to Section 49 of the Madhya Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2000, Sixth Schedule, pension liabilities between the successor states are divided in proportion to population", adding that the ratio of the share of liabilities between Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh was 48,566: 17,615.The state added in its reply that the Chhattisgarh govt, through its letter to the finance department, August 1 2025, placed a demand for Rs 10,133 crore from MP, adding that the correspondence was received on August 1, 2025.Devda informed that the liability arose due to the re-verification (audit/review) of pension liability payments conducted by the Chhattisgarh govt. He added that by an order issued by the finance department, dated Nov 28, 2025, a joint working group of officers from both the states was constituted and the matter was currently "under study".