Archive · 12 Aug 2026
SC Defers Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Water Plea to August 17
The Cauvery is a big river in India.
It flows through two states called Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The two states argue about how to share its water.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka is not sending enough water to it.
This year there has been less rain, which makes the problem harder.
In July, a water committee told Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water every day for 15 days.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka sent much less water than that.
So Tamil Nadu asked the Supreme Court, the highest court in India, for help.
The hearing was set for August 13, but one of the judges was sick with a fever.
Now the court will hear the case on August 17.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to August 17 the hearing of Tamil Nadu's plea seeking directions to Karnataka to immediately release Cauvery water.
The hearing was originally scheduled for August 13 but was postponed because Justice Vikram Nath, slated to head the bench, is unwell with viral fever.
Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court on August 3, seeking enforcement of the CWMA order requiring Karnataka to release 4.536 TMC of water, corresponding to 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days, by August 12.
The CWRC directed Karnataka on July 28 to release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days from July 29, but flows at Biligundlu ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka's combined reservoir storage of 77.537 TMC should yield 26.954 TMC at Biligundlu, far more than the CWMA's allocation of 4.536 TMC.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu government, DMK and farmers as petitioners, with senior advocate P Wilson in court; Karnataka government as respondent; the case is before the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, with Justice Vikram Nath to head the hearing.
- What
- The Supreme Court deferred to August 17 the hearing of pleas seeking a direction to Karnataka to immediately release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
- When
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from the original date of August 13; the plea was filed on August 3 and the CWRC issued its directive on July 28.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, in the dispute over Cauvery river water shared between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and measured at Biligundlu.
- Why
- Tamil Nadu says Karnataka has failed to release its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year, leaving it with far less than its allocation.
- Petitioners
- Tamil Nadu government, DMK and farmers
- Respondent
- Karnataka government
- Next Hearing
- August 17, 2026
- Reason for Deferral
- Justice Vikram Nath unwell with viral fever
- CWRC Directive (July 28)
- Release 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days from July 29
- Flow at Biligundlu (Jul 29-Aug 2)
- 158 to 550 cusecs
- Karnataka Reservoir Storage (as of Aug 3)
- 77.537 TMC
- TN's Claimed Due Share vs CWMA Allocation
- 26.954 TMC vs 4.536 TMC
