Cauvery: SC refuses to stall finalisation of draft scheme, suggests four changes

The Supreme Court while refusing to put the finalisation of the Cauvery management scheme on hold also suggested four changes to be made to draft prepared by the Centre.

The court has said that the Centre should name the authority. Further it said that the authority will have the final say and not the centre.

A provision that the authority should comply with any direction of the Centre is too broad and it needs to be re-defined, the court further said while adding that the authority shall be headquartered in New Delhi.

The changes were suggested after the Centre had submitted a draft scheme on the implementation of the Cauvery waters verdict. The Bench would continue hearing the matter on Thursday.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to modify the scheme and submit it for approval on Thursday.

Earlier, the Karnataka government requested the court to adjourn the case as the process of forming government is still going on in the state. While Tamil Nadu opposed the plea of Karnataka seeking deferment of the case.

"All the states concerned are making submissions to the draft scheme. I am requesting for adjournment till first week of July as I do not have the assistance and instruction from the council of ministers of Karnataka," the counsel appearing for the state said.

"It was the Centre which has to set up the draft scheme," the court said while rejecting Karnataka's plea.

The Centre on Monday had submitted the draft Cauvery management scheme in the Supreme Court for its approval.