Cauvery row: When Nariman told Supreme Court, "Do not embarrass me"

Bengaluru, Oct 5: Fali S Nariman, senior counsel arguing for the state of Karnataka in the Cauvery case had some interesting points to make before the Bench comprising Justices Dipak Mishra and U U Lalit.

From questioning the court's logic of deciding the quantum of water to be released to telling the Bench, "please do not embarrass me," Nariman was at his best on Tuesday.

Nariman considered to be a legal doyen had faced a lot of criticism in Karnataka when he refrained from arguing the case on the last date of hearing. He had said that in the event of Karnataka refusing to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court, he would refrain from making any arguments.

Please do not embarrass me

Nariman on Tuesday was agitated and questioned the logic of the Supreme Court which was deciding on the quantum of Cauvery water to be released to Tamil Nadu. "I have been facing flak for not restraining the Supreme Court from ordering the release of water which the state does not have to spare," he said.

"What is the logic behind the repeated orders to release more water despite our repeated pleas that it was reeling under a drinking water crisis, " Nariman asked the Bench. What is the logic behind passing orders like "Give 15,000 cusecs, give 10,000 cusecs, give 10,000 cusecs," Nariman also asked.

If you continue to pass such orders, I will have to go back to my old position and not argue. Do not embarrass me, Nariman also submitted.

When the Bench replied that it was on the basis of mathematics, Nariman shot back and said, "Your mathematics is not enough to decide on the quantum of water to be released. Be aware of the ground realities."

When the Supreme Court asked Karnataka how much water it could release to Tamil Nadu between October 7 and 16, the state sought time.

Advocate General of Karnataka Madhusudan R Naik and counsel Mohan R Katarki told the court that they could release only 1,500 cusecs on a daily basis. Nariman then told the Bench, "Please listen to the Advocate General and do not burden the state any more."

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