'If We Don't Read Files, Media Reports Can Influence Us' : Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing Of Delhi Govt Plea On Water Crisis

The Supreme Court on Monday (June 10) adjourned the hearing of Delhi Government's petition regarding the water crisis after noting that the defects in the petition copy have not been cured.

A vacation bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Prasanna B Varale said that they would prefer to read the files first so that they won't get swayed by the media coverage of the case.

"List it day after tomorrow (June 12) so all the reports etc are on record. We also want to read the file. There is so much reporting in media and if we do not read files then the media reports can impress us and that is not a good thing", Justice Mishra said.

On June 6, the Court directed the Himachal Pradesh Government to transfer 137 cusecs of water to the Hathnikund barrage in Haryana, and asked the Haryana Governemnt to facilitate the transfer of the surplus water received from HP to Delhi through the Wazirabad barrage. Moreover, the Court directed the Upper Yamuna River Board to submit the status report regarding the measure undertaken by it for the onward supply of water released from Himachal Pradesh to Delhi.

While submitting the status report on behalf of the State of Haryana, Senior Advocate Shyam Divan informed the Court today that the defect in the petition copy has not been removed by the petitioner's counsels.

“Defects were pointed out last week and still defects not been removed. You cannot take this court for a ride. Let the office verify that you removed the defects and if you did not then let the petition be dismissed. It will be dismissed.”, Justice Mishra warned the Delhi Government's Counsel.

The Delhi Government's counsel assured that steps would be taken to make sure that the defects were removed.

The background of the case can be accessed here.

Case Title: GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI Versus STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS., Diary No. 25504-2024

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