New Delhi, DHNS: Karnataka seems to be in a quandary as a few senior advocates whom it had approached to argue the Cauvery case before the Supreme Court have suggested that the state should first comply with the court directive to release water to Tamil Nadu.

After Fali S Nariman told the apex court on Friday that he would relieve himself from representing Karnataka after the state failed to implement the court order, Karnataka has approached several senior counsels, including Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi. However, it is understood that they also want Karnataka to first release water and then only they would take a briefing from the state government.

Even when the Supreme Court, on September 27, directed Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of water for three days to the neighbouring state, Nariman is learnt to have suggested the state to comply with the order, saying it would help Karnataka escape the wrath of the highest court.

With the Supreme Court, on September 30, directing the Union Ministry of Water Resources to set up the Cauvery Management Board by October 4, the state is now under pressure to take the services of a top advocate as it is opposing the formation of the Board.

Karnataka has been opposing the constitution of the Board, apprehending that it may lose its rights on the reservoirs as the Board will regulate the release of water to the basin states. “Now, releasing water to Tamil Nadu is not a big issue. More worrying is the formation of the Board. We have to appoint a top advocate to present our case strongly in the Apex Court,” sources said.

Separately, the state legal team also reportedly suggested the government that it comply with the Supreme Court order, as the reservoirs in the state’s Cauvery basin were getting good inflow in the past few days.