The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted to hear the plea seeking directions to the Centre, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, in order to sustain law and order in these two states that are observing violent protests in the wake of a row over the distribution of Cauvery water.
“Let it be listed tomorrow before the bench which is hearing it,” a bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and A M Khanwilkar said.
Senior advocate Adish Aggarwala, appearing for P Shivakumar, sought urgent hearing of the PIL saying that on Wednesday, there is a state-wide bandh in Karnataka and, the day after, Tamil Nadu will have the same kind of protest across that state.
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He said the states be instructed to take immediate action against the protesters to maintain law and order and implement security to private and public properties and the citizens of both the states.
Shivakumar, who is also a social activist, has also sought a direction that the leaders of the protest need to be carried accountable for the destruction caused to the properties and also be asked to pay up for them.
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On September 12, the apex court revised its first order on sharing of Cauvery water and ordered Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs instead of 15,000 cusecs per day until September 20 to Tamil Nadu.
Rejecting Karnataka’s plea seeking to place in abeyance for its earlier order, the court asked the officials to ensure compliance.
The apex court bench was critical of the language used in the recent plea of Karnataka seeking to keep in abeyance of the September 5 order asking it to release 15,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu.