Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to immediately appoint a new Chairman for the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, in the place of N.P. Singh, who tendered his resignation recently.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa stated that Tamil Nadu government, on March 16, 2012, filed a Civil Miscellaneous Petition before the Tribunal to take up the pending applications filed by the party States and the Central government under section 5(3) of the said Act and dispose of the same at the earliest.
A week later, the Tribunal had also issued a notice about the listing of this petition before it on April 17, 2012.
However, it could not be taken up owing to the resignation of Justice N.P. Singh.
“At this crucial juncture, the resignation of Justice N.P. Singh as Chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal has caused deep concern and anxiety in the minds of the people of Tamil Nadu.
“The Tribunal cannot function without the Chairman as required under section 4(2) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, with its two members. As per section 5A of the said Act, the proceedings of the Tribunal can be continued only if a person is nominated as the Chairman.”
In the letter, she recalled the Tribunal's final order of February 5, 2007, allocating the Cauvery water among the States. However, it was yet to be notified.
Meanwhile, the petitions under section 5(3) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, seeking explanation or guidance by the party States and the Central government were pending before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal since 2007.
“In the circumstances, I seek your personal intervention to appoint a new Chairman for the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal immediately,” she said.
“Resignation of Justice N.P. Singh has caused deep concern and anxiety”
“Tribunal proceedings can be continued only if a person is nominated Chairman”
