Supreme Court: With regard to the constitution of the “Cauvery Management Board”, the Court directed the States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry to nominate their respective representatives as per the final order passed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on or before 4.00 p.m. tomorrow i.e. 01.10.2016. The Court also directed that the Board should submit a report on ground reality of the situation.
Coming down heavily upon the State of Karnataka, the Court said that all authorities in the territory of India are bound to act in aid of the Supreme Court and also, if required, render assistance and aid for implementation of the order/s of this Court, but, unfortunately, the State of Karnataka is flouting the order and, in fact, creating a situation where the majesty of law is dented. The Bench of Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit, JJ said that they would have proceeded to have taken steps for strict compliance of the order, but will refrain to do so as they are directing the Cauvery Management Board to study the ground reality.
The Court directed the State of Karnataka to release 6000 cusecs of water despite the resolution passed by the Joint Houses of State Legislature of the State of Karnataka from 01.10.2016 to 06.10.2016 i.e. the next date of hearing. The Court said that it is granting this opportunity as the last chance and that the State of Karnataka, being a part of the federal structure of this country, should rise to the occasion and should not bent upon maintaining an obstinate stand of defiance, for one knows not when the wrath of law shall fall on one. [State of Tamil Nadu v. State of Karnataka, 2016 SCC OnLine SC 1055 , decided on 30.09.2016]
