Bengaluru/New Delhi: The Supreme Court overruled Union government’s contention claiming that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award amounted to a final decree with no role for it to hear appeals against the award of the tribunal.
A three-judge bench comprising justices Dipak Mishra, Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar dismissed Centre’s contention over its role in the dispute on water sharing between Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
The court however ordered Karnataka to release 2000 cusecs of water daily till further notice.
The Centre through Attorney General had raised preliminary objections over SC’s role and had contended that following 2007 CWDT award, the apex court had no role on sharing the river water.
The SC scheduled the next hearing for December 15 making it clear to the Centre that none can take away the appellate powers of the court, referring to article 136 of the Constitution.
However, Attorney General contended that since the interstate water disputes tribunal is headed by a retired supreme court or high court judge with its decree being equivalent to that of the SC, the apex court could not meddle in the same issue.
