The Supreme Court slammed the Karnataka government for citing public unrest and turmoil as reasons for seeking a modification of its September 5 order to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water from its reservoirs to a distressed Tamil Nadu. "Once the Supreme Court passes an order it is obligatory for Executive and citizens to obey it", the court said.

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

The Bench ordered that for the interim, Karnataka will release 12,000 cusecs on a daily basis till September 20. The court will issue further orders on the issue on September 20, the next date of hearing.

Justice Misra repeatedly observed during the hour-long hearing, that, "Citizens cannot become a law unto themselves. Once the Supreme Court orders something, it is the obligation of the Executive and citizens to obey."

Earlier, Karnataka approached the Supreme Court Registrar at his residence with their urgent plea for the highest court's intervention in the backdrop of the unabated turmoil and public unrest in the State following the Supreme Court order on September 5 to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

The apex court had ordered Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to Tamil Nadu to feed its parched agricultural lands in the "interests of justice".

On the other hand, massive violence broke out in parts of Bengaluru on Monday. The authorities imposed Section 144 in the city after the water dispute sparked off sporadic incidents of violence in parts of the city.

The state Home Minister G Parameshwara said that, "We have imposed prohibitory orders in the city in the wake of Cauvery water protest."

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Nandini