SC directs Water Resources secretary to be present with Cauvery scheme

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the secretary, Water Resources Ministry, to be personally present in the court on May 14 along with the scheme for the implementation of the Cauvery tribunal award which was reaffirmed by the top court with marginal modifications.

The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y.Chandrachud directed the presence of the secretary, Water Resources as Attorney General K.K.Venugopal sought six days' time for the Karnataka election to be over before the government takes a decision.

Chief Justice Dipak Misra told Venugopal that the Centre was in sheer contempt of the court. "You are in sheer contempt of the court," the CJI told Venugopal.

Venugopal said the draft scheme for the implementation of the Cauvery award was before the Cabinet and the meeting has not taken place as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers were busy campaigning in Karnataka, where assembly elections are slated to be held on May 12.

The AG sought six days' time for filing the scheme. Senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, asked why it cannot be filed on Thursday and Friday.

As the AG said the officers who instruct (on the matter) are not working on Saturdays and Sundays, Naphade, taking a jibe at the submission referred to a statement: "We are servants for 24 hours, 365 days."

As the AG said: "Who said that", Naphade asked: "You want me to quote" and referred to the statement by the top functionary of the government.

--IANS

pk/pgh/bg