Cauvery row: Supreme Court reduces amount of water Karnataka has to release to Tamil Nadu

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay its earlier order directing the Karnataka government to release 15,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu, rapping the state government for seeking a change in the order on the ground that it had sparked off a “spontaneous agitation” instead of preventing citizens from taking the law into their own hands.

As an interim measure, a top court bench, comprising Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit, however, reduced the quantity of water to be released from 15,000 cusecs to 12,000 cusecs, possibly to take the sting off the disturbances sparked off in Karnataka in the wake of the order.

While passing the order, the top court took note of the fact that a supervisory team, including members from both states, was meeting immediately to sort out Tamil Nadu’s demand for more water, but the exercise would take some time.

The bench listed the case for further hearing again on September 20, 2016. The court pulled up Karnataka government for seeking stay on the order. “Agitation in spontaneity or propelled by some motivation or galvanised by any kind of catalytic component, can never form the foundation for seeking modification of an order.

An order of this court has to be complied with… it is the obligation of the executive to see that the order is complied with in letter and spirit,” the bench said.