Centre seeks SC nod to let retired judges on existing water tribunal hear fresh cases

The Union government has moved the Supreme Court seeking a “purposive” interpretation of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to allow retired Supreme Court and high court judges heading existing water tribunals to adjudicate fresh inter-state river disputes.

The plea seeks to modify a February 2 Supreme Court judgment directing the Centre to constitute a new tribunal for the Pennaiyar river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Centre wants to assign the Pennaiyar dispute to the existing Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, whose members have retired but continue to hold office under the statute.

The government argues that this interpretation would avoid the need to constitute new tribunals each time, ensuring quicker resolution and optimal use of judicial resources.

The bench questioned why Parliament had not amended the statutory framework if such flexibility was intended.