Above: Cauvery

The Supreme Court on Thursday (May 3) slammed the Centre for dilly-dallying the constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and asked it to come up with proper draft or else face consequences after which the Centre informed the court that the draft has been placed, however, because of the Karnataka elections, ministers have been busy.

Once the elections are over, the Cabinet will look into the draft, the Centre said while asking for another 10 days to file the affidavit.

“At least the scheme should have been finalised by now. Those states which are not concerned should not be considered. The tribunal has already fixed the quota. Allotment is very less,” the bench comprising CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud said.

The counsel appearing for State of Tamil Nadu objected to the time sought by the Centre to file the affidavit saying that even a single day can’t be granted to the Centre as the elections in Karnataka were due on 12th and quoted the previous order of the court while emphasising on the time period of four weeks. He further quoted the orders of the court passed in 2016.

“What will I answer to the people of Tamil Nadu, it’s already May and we need drinking water?” said counsel.

To which the bench directed the Centre to release at least certain amount of water.

The bench observations came on the plea filed by the State of Tamil Nadu seeking to initiate contempt proceedings against the Centre for not constituting the CMB within the stipulated period of six weeks.

The matter was kept for further hearing to May 8.

—India Legal Bureau