Summary of the order/judgement
An agreement was entered into between the State of Punjab and the State of Haryana for digging of the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal under the Ravi-Beas project. The State of Punjab was allegedly not carrying out its obligation to dig the portion of the canal within its territory. This suit was filed by Haryana under Article 131 of the Constitution of India for an injunction to Punjab to fulfil its obligations.
The Court held that construction of the canal couLd not be held to be a water dispute under the Inter State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 as the construction of the canal had no relation with the sharing of water between the states.
It was held that the State Governments having entered into agreement on the intervention of the Prime Minister in 1981 could not be permitted to take a stand contrary to it. Hence, Punjab was directed to continue the digging of the Sutlej-Yamuna link canal and to make the canal functional within one year. In case of default, the Union Government should get it done through its own agencies.
(The decree of the Court remains unexecuted. For this reason, several subsequent orders have been passed by the Court, the last one dated September 3, 2019).