SC verdict on Cauvery: What are the possibilities?

 

Earlier on Thursday, the Central government tried to intervene on the matter by bring the two stakeholders – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together. However, the meeting led by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti failed to offer any solutions to the water dispute between the two states.

 

All eyes are now set on the Supreme Court’s verdict to be announced today.  The SC bench consisting of Justices Deepak Misra and Uday U Lalith will hear the Cauvery case at 2 pm.

 

Yesterday, after the meeting with the Centre’s committee, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and advocate Fali S Nariman spoke to Uma Bharti.

 

 “We have done our part. We have tried our level best to convince our problems in releasing water. Now it is left to the advocate how well he presents our problem before the court,” Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah later told the press.

 

What are the options before Karnataka?

•    To release water as told by the Supreme Court

•    To stand by Assembly decision not to release water

•    To put another appeal before the Apex Court

•    To request the SC to send an expert committee to both the states

 

What can the Apex court do?

•   File a contempt of court against the Karnataka government

•  Take the Karnataka government to task for not following its verdict

•    SC can transfer the responsibility of releasing water to the Centre

•    Send experts to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to check ground realities

•    Might order Karnataka government to release water and then promise to send the experts team

•    Might send the Karnataka chief secretary to prison for causing Contempt of Court