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