#Cauvery: “Citizens must accept order of this court”, Supreme Court [Read order]

The unpredictable waters of the Cauvery river seem to be creating a never-ending turbulence for the States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The apex court today modified its order of September 5 and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 20..The matter was heard today by a Bench of Dipak Misra and UU Lalit, JJ. which sat on a non-working day to resolve the matter..On September 5, the Supreme Court had directed Karnataka to embrace the principle of ‘live and let live’, and to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for ten days..This had sparked off widespread protests in Karnataka. Reeling under the effects of a week of protests and the threat of a massive water crisis following the order, Karnataka knocked at the doors of the Supreme Court citing a major law and order situation that threatened to engulf the whole State..Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing on behalf of the State of Karnataka, prayed to the Court to keep the previous order in abeyance for this week, especially since Tamil Nadu had only been withdrawing a minuscule fraction of the amount they had demanded..Senior Counsel Shekhar Naphade, who appeared for the State of Tamil Nadu, countered by saying that a law and order situation could not be a ground for modification of a court order, a line of argument the Bench wholeheartedly agreed with..The Supreme Court observed that the citizens of the country have to accept and obey the orders of the court, and it is the duty of the State governments to ensure that law and order is maintained..The Court, however, modified its earlier order and directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till September 20, and directed the State authorities to ensure that law and order is maintained..It also stated that the Supervisory Committee, which has been tasked with monitoring the issue, is the appropriate body to which this grievance should be directed. The hearing before the Committee will begin today.