The Supreme Court has asked Karnataka government to stop defying its orders and to confirm the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by 2 PM tomorrow (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, the central government has also challenged the apex court's recent ruling in which it had directed the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, questioning the court’s jurisdiction.
"The Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to order setting up of the Cauvery Management Board," Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a bench comprising Justices Dipak Mishra and UU Lalit.
"This is a legislative function and the court does not have jurisdiction over the matter. The Cauvery Water Management Board cannot be constituted as stipulated by the court," Rohatgi added further.
The Centre's U-turn comes shortly after Karnataka moved a review petition on Saturday in the Supreme Court, challenging the court's authority to pass orders to release Cauvery water and form a Cauvery management board in "violation" of the National Water Policy of 2012.
In its review petition, it said "grave miscarriage of justice" has been caused to it pursuant to three orders of the apex court dated September 20, 27 and September 30, by which it directed the state to release 6000 cusecs of water till October 6 and constitution of board by Centre till October 4.
For all of last month, Tamil Nadu has sought more water from the River Cauvery for its farmers. After the Supreme Court ruled in its favour, Karnataka obliged reluctantly, inciting riots across the state including in the capital of Bengaluru. After that, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that given that his own cities are nearly running dry, neighbour Tamil Nadu must wait till November for any more water.
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