When there is a court order, it has to be complied with.
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An SC bench said, “The people can not become a law unto themselves and, therefore, it is obligatory on the part of the authorities of both states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to prevent such actions”.
“We are compelled to state that it is the duty of both the states to see that no violence, agitation or destruction of properties takes place”.
The bench also said that bandhs and agitations could not be allowed in pursuant to the orders of the court. The river’s basin covers four states and Union Territories, as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,856 square kilometres (16,933 sq mi); Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometres (13,233 sq mi); Kerala, 2,866 square kilometres (1,107 sq mi), and Puducherry, 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi).
The Bench called additional advocate general for TN, Subramanium Prasad and said “We expect the state governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to maintain their dignity and respect for rule of law”.
Justice Dipak Misra summoned the state panel lawyers of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to the front of the court room while addressing them, media reported.
“With widespread damage to the vital urban infrastructure, interruption in the transport including roads, rail and air and inability of the workforce to safely move to and from offices and factories, Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru city, is estimated to have suffered a loss between Rs 22,000-25,000 crore due to Cauvery dispute related violence”, said an Assocham statement. “We should work hard to avoid such situation in the future in AP”, said Chandrababu Naidu reviewing the “Neeru-Pragati” programme at his official residence in Undavalli.
There should be no violence when there is a court order, said the SC.
Amidst tight security, police today foiled attempted rail blockades across southern Karnataka by angry mobs protesting against the state releasing the Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
In its September five order, the apex court had directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighboring state, which had triggered strong protests from farmers and pro-Kannada outfits with Karnataka observing a bandh against it on September 9.
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– On Thursday Tamil Nadu’s Vanigar Sangankal in Peramaippu (Federation of Tamil Nadu Traders’ Association) is also taking part in the September 16 bandh, which means almost 22 lakh shops will be closed, according to the federation. It was also critical of the language used in Karnataka’s plea.
