SC refuses Centre's plea on time for CMB, to hear matter tomorrow

New Delhi: Ahead of the crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday, the Centre on Wednesday made yet another attempt to file an application seeking two weeks time to frame a scheme to implement the directions in the February 16 judgment for release of water by Karnataka as per the Tribunal award.

Centre’s counsel Wasim Qadri made an urgent mention on Wednesday morning before a three-judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Kanwilkar and DY Chandrachud and sought permission to file the application, which was withdrawn on April 27.

The CJI refused to grant permission and told the counsel "why do you want to file an application when the matter is coming tomorrow."  

On April 9, the apex court had granted time to the Centre till May 3 so as to ensure that a mechanism is put in place before June when the release of water as per Tribunal directions will really come into effect. At that time the court turned down the request of the Centre to grant three months time in view of the Assembly polls in Karnataka on May 12.  

On April 27 the court granted permission to Wasim Qadri to file an application for extension of time limit by two weeks to frame the scheme. The application, which was filed, was later withdrawn.       

Initially the Centre sought three months time to implement the direction. It submitted that notifying the constitution of Cauvery Management Board (CMB) during the time when Assembly elections in Karnataka has been announced by the Election Commission would lead to massive public outrage, create serious law and order problem and may vitiate the election process.  

It said Cauvery is a very emotive issue in Karnataka and in the past the issue has led to serious law and order situations leading to avoidable loss of human lives and property. If the Central government were to constitute a 'scheme' under Section 6 A of the Inter State Water Disputes Act and notify it during the currency of the assembly election it would lead to massive public outrage, cause serious law and order problems and vitiate election process.