SC takes note of non-framing of Cauvery scheme by Centre

The Supreme Court today took strong note of the Centre not yet framing the Cauvery management scheme to implement its verdict on river water sharing between four southern states, even as Tamil Nadu attacked the union government for its "partisan" attitude saying this was the "end of cooperative federalism".

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked the Centre to file an affidavit by May 8 giving details of steps taken to frame the scheme, which was ordered for smooth release of water from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.

"Mr Venugopal (Attorney General), the scheme has to be finalised by the Centre and it should have been finalised by now. The states have no role in it," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Attorney General K K Venugopal said the hearing on setting up of the scheme, under which Cauvery Management Board (CMB) has be constituted, be deferred by ten days till the Karnataka polls are over as the Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues are busy in campaigning.

Venugopal also said the draft scheme, which has to be approved by the Union Cabinet, could not be put for approval due to the ongoing campaign.

He also referred to the recent communication of the Karnataka Chief Minister that the Water Resources Ministers of all the four states be made members of the CMB, has created an issue which also needed to be resolved.

The submission irked senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, who said "this is the end of cooperative federalism and the rule of law in the country. This is the partisan attitude of the union of India to favour Karnataka."