Tamil Nadu seeks urgent hearing in Supreme Court over Cauvery river water

The Tamil Nadu government made an urgent oral submission in the Supreme Court on Thursday, November 5, 2026. In this submission, Tamil Nadu leveled serious allegations against the state of Karnataka, claiming that Karnataka has stopped releasing Cauvery river water since October 23. The Tamil Nadu government has sought immediate judicial intervention on this matter.

Advocate B. Karunarakaran presented the case before a bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant. He informed the court that despite orders from the Cauvery Water Management Authority to release 3,000 cusecs of water daily, Karnataka has failed to do so. This situation is severely impacting agricultural lands in Tamil Nadu.

Expressing his concern, Advocate Karunarakaran stated, "Four lakh hectares of land for crops will be completely destroyed... Karnataka is not releasing water. Where shall we go?" He explained to the court that if the water supply is not maintained, lakhs of hectares of cultivable land and the crops upon them will be damaged, which could prove economically devastating for the state's farmers.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court adopted a stern stance on a separate issue regarding the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-NCR region. Referring to a report by the Hindustan Times, the court noted that traditional and unauthorized firecrackers are being sold openly in Delhi markets despite the ban. A bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale ordered the Central Government, the Delhi Government, and the police to take all necessary steps to stop these violations.

The court told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the Hindustan Times report contains photographs showing that everything is available in shops despite yesterday's order. The court further added that all types of firecrackers—licensed, unlicensed, and those without QR codes—are available in the market, which necessitates an investigation.

According to the Hindustan Times report, surveys conducted on October 22 and November 2 revealed that firecrackers were being sold openly in major markets such as Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazar, Shastri Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, and New Friends Colony. Vendors were selling products with labels like "Green Crackers," "Pollution-Free," and "Zero Pollution," while traditional firecrackers were supplied from hidden stocks or nearby warehouses upon request.

The report also revealed that many boxes lacked the QR codes mandated by the court, and some codes led customers to online catalogues instead of certificate verification. In Chandni Chowk, one vendor directed a customer to Sadar Bazar for larger firecrackers, claiming everything is available there. Additionally, despite the court's ban on online sales, some vendors were accepting advance orders for home delivery.

The Supreme Court had previously permitted the sale of only certified green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR from November 4 to 6. Permission was granted to burst these crackers on November 7 and 8 between 6 am to 7 am and 8 pm to 10 pm. A complete ban on firecrackers will be reimposed from November 9. The court clarified that only firecrackers certified by CSIR-NEERI and PESO can be sold. A QR code providing details of the manufacturer, registration, and license is mandatory on every box. There is a complete ban on the production and sale of barium-containing or chain (lari) firecrackers.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the court stated on September 30 that 24-hour permission for bursting crackers cannot be given and a middle path is necessary. On October 29, the court suggested that famous personalities like Virat Kohli be helped to make people aware of celebrating a pollution-free Diwali.

Apart from this, the Supreme Court refused to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) claiming a 700% increase in airfares, telling the petitioner that if the fare is too high, they should not travel by air and move on. In another case, the court stated that dharnas cannot be held at one place indefinitely, as while protest is everyone's right, it is equally important to consider employment and business. A demand of ₹5 crore was made from Tushar Kapoor in the name of Harry Boxer of the Lawrence gang, but investigation revealed the voice was fake. Regarding the ₹21 thousand crore inauguration of Pune Metro projects, Prime Minister Modi stated that previously promises were made to remove poverty, but now work is happening on the ground.