Cauvery row: Karnataka still has a legal option

The legal fraternity has advocated the state government avoid the path of confrontation in the long term interest of the state in the backdrop of the Supreme Court order on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. However, it is also being felt that the Supreme Court has ordered releasing of water in a hurry.

“The state government now has one legal option before it that is filing a review appeal before the Supreme Court and seeking a stay on order passed by it. Other than this, no legal option is left before the government,” former advocate general BV Acharya said.

Disobeying the Supreme Court order would invite wrath of SC with serious consequences as it will amount to contempt of court.

“I am really surprised that Supreme Court has taken a decision on releasing water in a hurry. The court must have taken into consideration the storage position in the reservoirs, the state is facing a severe drought. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu is going to receive rainfall in coming days with north-east monsoon. The Supreme Court must have taken these relevance circumstance before passing the order,” Acharya added.

“The state government can file for review or follow the SC order without any objections. While filing the review petition, the state government should convince (the court) about its inability to release water to Tamil Nadu with all records and facts. If the court does not entertain the review petition, the state government has to release water. The SC ultimatum cannot be overlooked as we are in a democratic set-up. The court judgments must be respected and followed, or else it will lead to anarchy,” former advocate general, Uday Holla, said.