Supreme Court asks Karnataka to continue releasing water to TN
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked Karnataka on Tuesday to continue releasing 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery every day to Tamil Nadu till further orders, ordering the two states to ensure peace and harmony.
“Citizens should not become law unto themselves,” a bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra said and indicated that it would first adjudicate the appeals filed by the two governments and Kerala against the Cauvery tribunal’s 2013 award. “We first intend to decide the maintainability of appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. At this juncture, the interim order dated October 4 directing Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu will continue till further orders,” said the bench. It ordered: “Morality of respect for both the states, among people of both the states and properties, should be maintained.”
Both states told the bench they were in dire need of water. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi placed before the court the supervisory committee’s report. He also contested the appeals filed by the states and said they were not maintainable under the inter-state River Water Disputes Act, 1956. According to him the tribunal award is final and akin to a SC decree. Senior advocate and noted jurist Fali S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, said the appeals are maintainable as SC is the only forum to adjudicate disputes between states.