New Delhi: The Supreme Court on November 1 directed
Karnataka to keep releasing 9,000 CUSECS of Cauvery water
everyday to Tamil Nadu till November 6 and, thereafter on
the basis of interim order of the tribunal and deferred
its action on the 'non-compliance' of Karnataka earlier.
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice B N Kirpal
said, "We are deferring the decision as to what action
should be taken by this court against Karnataka on
non-compliance of its order to the next date of hearing."
The next date of hearing of two contempt petitions filed
by Tamil Nadu accusing Karnataka of not releasing water as
stipulated by the apex court is on November 15.
The court requested Cauvery River Authority (CRA) to meet
as soon as possible and take an early decision.
It observed that any decision taken by CRA "will ipso
facto override the orders of the court so far as release
of water is concerned".
It further said that "CRA will take into consideration the
deficiency with regard to release of water on account of
non-compliance of the orders of the court and CRA".
The court had on October 24 lambasted Karnataka Chief
Minister S M Krishna for "wilfully" and "deliberately"
disobeying its orders for release of Cauvery waters to
Tamil Nadu and had prime facie found him guilty of
contempt of Court but deferred pronouncing of the formal
orders till November 1.
PTI
