Penniyar River Dispute | Supreme Court Judges From Karnataka & Tamil Nadu Recuse From Hearing
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice AS Bopanna and Justice MM Sundresh recused from hearing Tamil Nadu Government’s plea pertaining to the dispute in sharing of the Pennaiyar river water with the State of Karnataka. Recently, the Union Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to apprise it that, pursuant to its order, the Centre submitted a proposal to...
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court Bench comprising Justice AS Bopanna and Justice MM Sundresh recused from hearing Tamil Nadu Government’s plea pertaining to the dispute in sharing of the Pennaiyar river water with the State of Karnataka. Recently, the Union Government has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court to apprise it that, pursuant to its order, the Centre submitted a proposal to the Cabinet Secretariat for formation of Pennaiyar Water Dispute Tribunal to resolve the Pennaiyar river dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The affidavit states that the Union Cabinet is yet to take a decision in this regard.
Justice Bopanna and Justice Sundresh indicated that since they belong to the States involved in the present dispute they would refrain from hearing the matter.
On a lighter note, Justice Bopanna said, “This cannot be heard by us. Both of us would start fighting. He (Justice Sundresh) is saying let the Tribunal be constituted. I am saying no”.
He added,
“All the water that goes to them is from my district. The birthplace of Cauvery is my district.”
Justice Bopanna hails from Karnataka and Justice Sundresh from Tamil Nadu.
The Bench asked the Registry to obtain order from the Chief Justice of India and place the matter before an appropriate Bench.
In December, 2022, the Apex Court had given a deadline of three months to the Union Government to complete the process of constituting the Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal. In May, 2023, the Apex Court had granted one month’s time to constitute the Tribunal, including the issuance of the Gazette Notification.
[Case Title: State of Tamil Nadu v. State of Karnataka Original Suit No. 1 of 2018]
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