Bengaluru: As the Supreme Court has passed an order on framing the rules for the constitution of Cauvery Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, Parliament has no powers to interfere it at this stage. It is better to request the Supreme Court to constitute a Constitution bench to hear the matter, suggested Opposition Leader B.S. Yeddyurappa and others, who attended an all-party meeting at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday.
“Is it possible for the Centre to disobey the orders of the apex court at this stage,” they asked.
The court has directed the Centre to issue an executive order to frame the schemes. Though the jurisdiction of framing schemes is vested with Parliament under Section 7 of the Inter Sates Water Disputes Act, 1956, the apex court had turned down the request of the Centre, legal experts said.
Union Minister Ananthkumar said that the state government should file a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order directing the Centre to constitute the Cauvery River Management Authority to regulate the release of water and monitor the storage levels at reservoirs.
Some leaders suggested that the government file an original suit challenging the Supreme Court order. Mr R.S. Ravi, a senior advocate in the Cauvery Legal panel, told Deccan Chronicle that the Centre has to file the review petition before the Supreme Court as the order is directed at it. The power of the state is limited to challenging the framing of schemes, he said. The powers of Cauvery Management Authority should be restricted to regulating and releasing of water to riparian states. But the Authority now has control over supervision of dams, usage of surplus water, crop pattern and other related issues, he pointed out. Mr Ravi said that notwithstanding the Supreme Court order, Parliament can bring an amendment to the Inter State Water Disputes Act that can negate the ruling of the apex court.
The leaders of all parties discussed at length the pros and cons of the Cauvery Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, during the all-party meeting.
All leaders, cutting across party lines, voiced that the state government should protect the interest of farmers. The leaders assured the government of all cooperation.
