New Delhi/Mysuru: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on maintainability of appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala against the 2007 award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT).
“Judgement reserved. Interim order of October 18 to continue till further orders,” a bench of Justices Dipak Misra, Amitava Roy and A. M. Khanwilkar said.
The bench asked the parties to file their written submissions by October 24 and said it would pass the order thereafter.
The Centre, through Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, had raised a preliminary objection claiming that the CWDT award amounted to a final decree in the dispute and the apex court had no jurisdiction to hear appeals against the award of the tribunal. Continuing its argument, Karnataka on Wednesday said that appeals filed by the state against the award of the tribunal was maintainable. Noted jurist and senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Karnataka, said the Supreme Court had the jurisdiction to adjudicate the appeals filed by the state against the award of tribunal.
Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, also contended that the appeals were maintainable and no statute can take away the powers of the apex court.
“Section 6(2) of Inter-state Water Disputes Act, 1956 cannot oust Supreme Court's constitutional appellate powers given under Article 136 of the Constitution,” Naphade said. Similarly, Kerala also supported the stand of Karnataka and said that the appeals were maintainable.
However, Puducherry supported the stand of the Centre that the appeals filed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are not maintainable. Rohatgi reiterated his Tuesday’s argument that SC had no juridiction to adjudicate the appeals pertaining to the dispute relating to use, distribution and control of inter-state water or river valley.
‘Disappointed’ Made Gowda to continue protest
Cauvery Hitharakshana Vedike head Mr G. Madegowda has expressed his disappointment over the order of the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu and warned that they would protest if the state releases water to TN. “We have requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, not to release water. We are waiting to know the stand of the government on the latest judgement. If he releases water this time, we will protest against Mr Siddaramaiah,” he said.
Mr Madegowda also held a meeting with Mandya MP C.S. Puttaraju, MLC K.T. Srikantegowda and others, and discussed plans for their protests in future.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old farmer, Arun, who was arrested during the Cauvery agitation, reportedly attempted suicide in Mandya jail by consuming tablets. He has been shifted to Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences.
