Mullaperyiar Dam Case : Supreme Court Rejects Kerala's Plea To Change Suprevisory Committee Head

The Supreme Court on Tuesday(April 5) had asked the Centre and the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala to consider a "working arrangement" where the court-appointed Supervisory Committee may be entrusted with the functions and duties of the National Dam Safety Authority under the Dam Safety Act, 2021.

'The whole attempt of Kerala is to drive us out of Kerala'- Tamil Nadu; 'In independent India, Tamil Nadu is scared of being driven out of Kerala. Is this a permanent colonisation of Kerala by Tamil Nadu?'- Kerala

During the hearing in the pre-lunch session, there were few exchanges between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Senior Advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, alleged that Kerala was obstructing the TN officials from carrying out the works related to the Dam. "The whole attempt of Kerala is to drive us out of Kerala", Naphade submitted. "Every year, the issue is raised- this issue of flood, safety has been examined as recently as January 2022 by the supervisory committee, and in categorical terms, it says that the dam is safe", Naphade added.

Gupta countered this allegation by saying, "Can your lordships imagine the submission in independent India that Tamil Nadu is scared of being driven out of Kerala. Is this a permanent colonisation of Kerala by Tamil Nadu?".

The Bench said that it is focusing now only on the safety of the Dam and was not going into other contentious issues. Naphade submitted that Tamil Nadu should be permitted to carry out certain things which the 2006 and 2014 judgments have permitted in relation to the dam.

 "Our only concern is that the 2006 and 2014 judgments have permitted us to carry out certain things, the empowered committee has empowered us to do certain things, the supervisory committee has asked us to do certain things which we are not able to do. We are obstructed. I can show from the second report of the supervisory committee of January 2022 how we have been obstructed. We should be permitted to carry out all this", the Tamil Nadu's counsel said.

Justice Khanwilkar: "Under the 2021 Act, are you entitled to carry out all those activities? If you are entitled to, the supervisory committee will permit you. The primary responsibility of the supervisory committee is the dam safety. All the directions issued by the supervisory committee will be carried out by the respective states...Dam strengthening is the entire part of the Act now. The supervisory committee will pass directions which will be carried out by both states. If you are required to do something, the supervisory committee will ensure that you are in a position to do it and for this purpose, appropriate directions will be issued by the committee. That will now be implemented as a statutory direction"

Mr. Naphade: "Otherwise, I am in a position to demonstrate how right from 2014, there has been obstruction, judicially recognised"

Mr. Gupta: "If my friend wants these issues to be decided by your lordships, we will argue"

Justice Khanwilkar: "what is there to argue now after the Act"

Mr. Gupta: "That is why we are agreeable to Your Lordships' vision. If my friend is seeking directions from the court, then we have to place the entire matter before your lordships"

Justice Khanwilkar: "We are not examining those allegations and counter allegations. We don't have to do it. Don't go in the history and past"

Mr. Gupta: "but my friend is insisting that it has to be a direction"

Justice Khanwilkar: "let us not go into the history and past policies. Concentrate on the future of the dam"

Mr. Gupta: "Safety measures don't include a new dam according to him. We are saying the best safety measure is a new dam"

Justice Khanwilkar: "to what extent it is correct, it is a matter for the authorities to examine"

Mr. Gupta: "Absolutely, I am not saying anything to that effect..."

Mr. Naphade: "the Act only deals with safety, nothing more"

Justice Khanwilkar: "Today, immediate attention is required to be given to the safety of the existing dam for which authorities are there under the act but it is not established"

Mr. Naphade: "My friend repeatedly says 'we have to argue". It is not like we are running away from that battle"

Justice Khanwilkar: "We are not recording anything to that effect"

Mr. Gupta: "Does my note say that we want to argue? I have only said that if my friends argues or says something to that effect then we have to argue"

Justice Khanwilkar: "We appeal to both the states to let the water flow, and safely"

'We will not be going to the issue of new dam right now; Vesting the supervisory committee with statutory functions and powers and strengthening it is the first arrangement to be ensured'- SC

Justice Khanwilkar (to advocates on the petitioners' side): "Supervisory committee has been constituted by this court. Please don't don't say the committee is not sensitive about your issues. If there is specific material to support that allegation, we will look into it. But don't make this very wide statement. Because it is appointed by the Supreme Court order forget about the states, we are not on the states- the safety is the complete responsibility of the supervisory committee. We are saying all functions under section 9 will go to the supervisory committee, which includes those under the second schedule also"

Justice Khanwilkar: "We will not be going to the issue of new dam right now. It is for the committee to evolve some mechanism for safety in the first place, and maybe if for value addition another dam is required, even that will be considered, but that will be considered at an appropriate time but not today. Today our concern is to immediately empower the supervisory committee with all the powers that are available with the Authority under the 2021 Act so that there is a statutory mechanism which starts rolling out immediately. Today as regards the activities of the supervisory committee, shackles are there of the Supreme Court judgment. Now the authority functioning under the Act has very wide powers. So let that committee discharge that power"

Justice Khanwilkar: "There are enough guidelines in the act. Don't take up one-one point from the 2021 act. It is a holistic arrangement to ensure safety of every dam across the country, not only one dam. You are concerned about only one dam, it is concerned about all the dams in the country. With particular to this dam, we are focusing presently, taking help of the supervisory committee which is already there and strengthening that committee to discharge all statutory functions which are enumerated under the 2021 act. That is the obligation of the supervisory committee"

Justice Khanwilkar: "The supervisory committee will have all powers of the authority under the act which includes prosecuting, There is penal offence also for non-compliance of directions. Just see the outcome of how we are dealing with it. Then make your suggestions and then we will consider it. Right now you are not allowing any system to work. By keeping us busy, you are allowing status quo to prevail. You are anticipating too many things- that many things will not happen. Don't start on that note. Supervisory committee will be able to deliver all your aspirations and take care of all apprehensions. You can make a representation to the supervisory committee"

Justice Khanwilkar: "this is the first arrangement to be ensured. After that maybe all issues can be resolved. You have to give some timeframe for that and only then you can start making grievances. Before the committee is given that power, the committee actually moves into action, you start raising points just because you have something in mind? Can you go beyond the statute? We are giving all functions and powers of the authority to the supervisory committee. What more can be said about it? Make particular representations to the supervisory committee. We don't have to examine all grievances. That is their obligation. Don't come here straight for every grievance. One house is affected, it is not mean that we start looking at all issues. The supervisory committee in the first place will examine. The act is a very comprehensive act, you cannot say that this act is falling short in any areas"