The Hindu : National : "Is Cauvery tribunal functioning?"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 14, 2006

National

National

"Is Cauvery tribunal functioning?"

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi : Is the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal still functioning, asked the Supreme Court on Thursday.

A Bench of Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice P.P. Naolekar, hearing a petition filed by Karnataka relating to provision of accommodation to the Chairman and Members of the Krishna Tribunal, asked senior counsel Fali Nariman "what is happening in Cauvery Tribunal. Is it still functioning." Mr. Nariman said "there is some problem. We [States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and Union Territory of Pondicherry] have all taken a united stand. Let us see."

Additional Solicitor General Amarendra Saran informed the Bench that allotment of houses to the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Brijesh Kumar and to Member, Justice S.P. Srivastava, had been made and Justice D.K. Seth, Member, had stated that he would not required accommodation at present.

To a question from the Bench, Mr. Saran said the house allotted to Justice Brijesh Kumar was not a vacant house, but the one in possession of Najma Heptulla, MP, who had been allotted another house.

The Bench asked the Centre to ensure that the house was vacated in two weeks and Justice Brijesh Kumar was informed of it.

Regarding Justice Srivastava, the Bench asked the Centre to hand over possession to him immediately.

The Bench observed: "We are happy that better sense has prevailed on the Central Government. You [Centre] have taken action only after we said we will call the Minister in court. If you are not able to provide accommodation or facilities dissolve the tribunals."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National