SC: We will not allow Citizens to become a Law unto themselves and violate our orders

September,12,2016:

"Once the Supreme Court passes orders on something, it is the obligation of the Executive and Citizens alike to obey it"

"Once the Supreme Court has passed an order it is obligatory for both the Executive and citizens to obey it", the Apex court said today.

The bench has slammed the Karnataka Government for citing protests and public unrest and turmoil as reasons before it for seeking a modification of its September 5 order to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water from its reservoirs to a Water distressed Tamil Nadu.

A SC Bench of Justices Dipak Misra and U.U. Lalit flatley refused to agree to Karnataka's plea to completely stop the release of water, but agreed to the extent of reducing the amount to be released from 15,000 cusecs to 12,000 cusecs a day.

The Bench directed that for the interim period, Karnataka will release 12,000 cusecs on a daily basis till September 20.

The court said it would issue further orders on the issue on September 20, the next date of hearing.

The earlier decision to direct Karnataka to part with 15,000 cusecs for the stipulated period came shortly after the court urged Karnataka to embrace the principle of "live and let live".

It advised Karnataka to take steps to release Cauvery water to a distressed Tamil Nadu State to help the latter continue to "survive and exist as an entity''.