New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday granted six months time to the Union government to comply with the apex court's February 2, 2026 judgment to set up an inter-state water tribunal to adjudicate upon the dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in respect of Pennar/ Pennaiyar river.
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Supreme Court grants six months to Centre to set up tribunal to resolve Pennar water dispute
In one lineSupreme Court grants Centre six months to establish a tribunal resolving Karnataka-Tamil Nadu's Pennar river water dispute.Key points• Supreme Court directiveThe apex court ordered the Union government to set up an inter-State water tribunal within six months to resolve the Pennar/Pennaiyar river dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.• Centre's compliance effortsThe Centre cited procedural and statutory requirements, stating it is taking expeditious steps, including inter-ministerial consultations and Cabinet note approval, to comply with the court's directions.• State positionsKarnataka argued it plans to leave 2 tmcft surplus water for Tamil Nadu, while Tamil Nadu alleged Karnataka's projects prejudicially affect its interests under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.• Dispute contextPennar/Pennaiyar is an inter-State river where Karnataka is the upper riparian state and Tamil Nadu the lower riparian, with Karnataka planning significant water utilisation.Key statistics11.77 tmcftTotal water in Karnataka's catchment9.77 tmcftKarnataka's planned water utilisation2 tmcftSurplus water for Tamil NaduSix monthsDeadline for tribunal setupProcessed with AI. Reviewed by DH Digital Team.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta allowed an application filed by the Centre represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati seeking six months' time to constitute the tribunal. She said the government is taking expeditious steps in the matter.
"The statutory and procedural requirements require a reasonable amount of time for completion. The applicant is making all earnest efforts to ensure compliance with the directions of this court at the earliest. The delay in compliance is neither intentional nor deliberate but has occurred due to circumstances beyond its control,'' the Centre said.
Pennaiyar River dispute | Imperative to set up inter-state tribunal, if negotiations fail: Supreme CourtPennar/ Pennaiyar is an inter-state river. The State of Karnataka is upper riparian and Tamil Nadu, lower riparian.
During the hearing, advocate Nishanth Patil, appearing for the Karnataka government submitted that actually, it is a very small matter.
Karnataka's Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty and senior advocate Mohan Katarki also represented the state. Tamil Nadu was led by senior advocate V Krishnamurthy.
In its application, the Centre said, the Ministry of Jal Shakti has initiated necessary steps for compliance with the directions of this court, as inter-ministerial consultations have been completed; after incorporating the views and comments of various Ministries, the draft cabinet note has been approved by Minister of Jal Shakti; and the draft cabinet note has been forwarded to the Cabinet Secretariat for consideration of the Union Cabinet.
It also stated that the remaining formalities to ensure compliance with the directions included after the approval of Cabinet, the request for nomination for the post of Chairman and Members in the Pennaiyar Dispute Tribunal as per Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 would be sent to the Chief Justice of India.
"After nomination of the Chairman and Members by the Chief Justice of India, the draft notification would be prepared and vetted by the Department of Legal Affairs, thereafter, the notification constituting the Tribunal would be notified,'' it said.
'Enough is enough': Supreme Court orders MP government to decide on prosecuting minister for comments on Col Sofiya QureshiTamil Nadu has filed a complaint under Section 3 of the Act of 1956, complaining that various projects taken by the State of Karnataka across the main Pennaiyar River and its tributary Markendeya Nadhi have prejudicially affected or are likely to affect the interests of the downstream state of Tamil Nadu and its inhabitants.
The State of Karnataka, opposing the contention submitted that out of the total water of 11.77 TMC in the catchment of Karnataka, the state has planned utilisation of 9.77 TMC, leaving 2 TMC and surplus water to the State of Tamil Nadu, which it submitted as sufficient to meet the requirements of Tamil Nadu.