Deepali Kalia –
Published on August 04, 2021, at 2:44 PM
On 4th August, the State of Andhra Pradesh informed the Supreme Court that instead of settling the dispute through mediation, it wanted adjudication of its writ petition which it had filed against the State of Telangana over a dispute involving sharing of Krishna river water.
The Supreme Court on 2nd August had suggested that the two States involved settle their dispute amicably.
“I don’t want to hear this matter legally. I belong to both States. If the matter can be settled in mediation, please do that. We can help with that. Otherwise, I will transfer this to another Bench,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana had stated.
The CJI had stressed that the Top Court didn’t desire to unnecessarily intervene in the matter.
As a result, upon hearing Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, who appeared for the State of Andhra Pradesh submit that the State wanted adjudication, CJI Ramana decided to recuse from hearing the matter.
“We aren’t compelling you, we don’t force you, if you don’t want mediation it is for you, we can’t say anything. Let the matter be listed before another Bench,” the CJI stated.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that the Union Government had no objection to the CJI hearing the matter but the CJI insisted that he did not wish to hear the matter.
“They don’t want mediation, and I don’t want to hear the matter.” The CJI said.
State of Andhra Pradesh had filed the petition against the State of Telangana as allegedly Telangana, in contravention of the rules of the integrated operation of the Reservoirs and the provisions of the 2015 Agreement had been indiscriminately drawing water from river Krishna for power use.
Read more: CJI: States of Telangana and AP should resolve Water Dispute Amicably