Upset, Katarki quits as state's lawyer in SC

Water Resources Minister M B Patil and Law Minister T B Jayachandra on Saturday met jurist Fali Nariman, the counsel for the Karnataka government, to discuss the Cauvery water dispute case which is scheduled to come up for daily hearing in the Supreme Court from February 7.

Mohan Katarki, who had represented Karnataka in Supreme Court since 1990, on Saturday quit his post in a huff on not being invited for the meeting with Nariman.

Besides the two ministers, Karnataka advocate general Madhusudan Nayak and Rakesh Singh, principal secretary, Water Resources department, were also present during the nearly three-hour meeting at Nariman’s residence.

Patil termed Katarki’s resignation a “childish act,” as no lawyers were called for the meeting with Nariman.

He said the state government was planning to expand its team of lawyers for the Supreme Court.

On December 9, the Supreme Court, in a judgment, had rejected the Centre’s argument that the apex court lacked jurisdiction to hear the Cauvery river dispute.

On January 4, the apex court had announced that it would begin day-to-day hearing in the Cauvery water dispute case from February 7.