Legal Approach : Ensuring Legal Justice

 THE INTER-STATE WATER DISPUTES ACT, 1956

 ACT NO. 33 OF 1956 1*

 [28th August, 1956.]

      An Act to provide for the adjudication  of  disputes  relating to

 waters of inter-State rivers and river valleys.

      Be it  enacted by  Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic

 of India as follows:--

 1. Short title and extent.

      1. Short  title and extent. (1) This Act may be called the Inter-

 State Water Disputes Act, 1956.

      (2) It extends to the whole of India.

 2. Definitions.

      2.  Definitions.  In  this  Act,  unless  the  context  otherwise

 requires,--

           (a) "prescribed"  means prescribed  by rules made under this

                Act;

           (b) "Tribunal"  means a  Water Disputes Tribunal constituted

                under section 4;

           (c) "water  dispute" means any dispute or difference between

                two or more State Governments with respect to--

                     (i) the use, distribution or control of the waters

                of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley; or

                     (ii)  the  interpretation  of  the  terms  of  any

                agreement relating  to the use, distribution or control

                of such waters or the implementation of such agreement;

or

                     (iii) the  levy of any water rate in contravention

                of the prohibition contained in section 7.

   3. Complaints by State Governments as to water disputes.

 appears to the Government of any State that a water dispute  with  the

 Government of another State has arisen or is likely to arise by reason

 of the fact that  the  interests  of  the  State, or  of  any  of  the

 inhabitants  thereof, in  the  waters of an inter-State river or river

 valley have been, or are likely to be, affected prejudicially by--

           (a) any  executive action or legislation taken or passed, or

                proposed to be taken  or passed, by the other State; or

           (b) the  failure of the other State or any authority therein

                to exercise  any of  their powers  with respect  to the

                use, distribution or control of such waters; or

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 1.   The Act  has been extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of

 1963, s.  2 and  Sch. 1 and to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and

 Sch. I.

           (c) the failure of the other State to implement the terms of

                any agreement  relating to  the  use,  distribution  or

                control of such waters,

 the  State  Government  may,  in  such  form  and  manner  as  may  be

 prescribed, request  the Central Government to refer the water dispute

 to a Tribunal for adjudication.

 4. Constitution of Tribunal.

      4. Constitution of Tribunal. (1) When any request under section 3

 is received  from any State Government in respect of any water dispute

 and the Central Government is of opinion that the water dispute cannot

 be  settled   by  negotiations,   the  Central  Government  shall,  by

 notification in  the Official  Gazette, constitute  a  Water  Disputes

 Tribunal for the adjudication of the water dispute.

      1*[(2) The  Tribunal shall  consist of  a Chairman  and two other

 members nominated  in this  behalf by  the Chief Justice of India from

 among persons  who at  the time  of such  nomination are Judges of the

 Supreme Court or of a High Court.]

      (3) The  Tribunal may appoint two or more persons as assessors to

 advise it in the proceeding before it.

 5. Adjudication of water disputes.

      5. Adjudication  of water  disputes. (1) When a Tribunal has been

 constituted under  section 4, the Central Government shall, subject to

 the prohibition  contained in  section 8,  refer the water dispute and

 any matter  appearing to  be connected with, or relevant to, the water

 dispute to the Tribunal for adjudication.

      (2) The Tribunal shall investigate the matters referred to it and

 foward to  the Central  Government a  report setting  out the facts as

 found by it and giving its decision on the matters referred to it.

      (3) If,  upon consideration  of the decision of the Tribunal, the

 Central Government or any State Government is of opinion that anything

 therein contained requires explanation or that guidance is needed upon

 any point  not  originally  referred  to  the  Tribunal,  the  Central

 Government or  the State  Government, as  the case may be, may, within

 three months  from the date of the decision, again refer the matter to

 the Tribunal  for further  consideration; and  on such  reference, the

 Tribunal may forward to the Central Government a further report giving

 such explanation  or guidance  as it deems fit and in such a case, the

 decision of the Tribunal shall be deemed to be modified accordingly.

      2*[(4) If  the members  of the  Tribunal differ in opinion on any

 point, the  point shall  be decided  according to  the opinion  of the

 majority.]

 5A. Filling of vacancies.

      3*[5A. Filling  of vacancies. If, for any reason a vacancy (other

 than a  temporary absence) occurs in the office of the Chairman or any

 other member of a Tribunal,

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.   Subs. by Act 35 of 1968, s. 2, for sub-section (2).

 2.   Ins. by s. 3, ibid.

 3.   Ins. by s. 4, ibid.

 such vacancy  shall be  filled by  a person  to be  nominated in  this

 behalf by the Chief Justice of India in accordance with the provisions

 of sub-section  (2) of  section 4, and the investigation of the matter

 referred to  the Tribunal  may be  continued by the Tribunal after the

 vacancy is filled and from the stage at which the vacancy occurred.]

 6. Publication of decision of Tribunal.

      6. Publication  of decision  of Tribunal.  The Central Government

 shall publish the decision of the Tribunal in the Official Gazette and

 the decision  shall be final and binding on the parties to the dispute

 and shall be given effect to by them.

 6A. Power to make schemes to implement decision of Tribunal.

      1*[6A. Power  to make  schemes to implement decision of Tribunal.

 (1) Without  prejudice to  the provisions  of section  6, the  Central

 Government may,  by notification  in the  Official  Gazette,  frame  a

 scheme or  schemes whereby  provision may  be  made  for  all  matters

 necessary to give effect to the decision of a Tribunal.

      (2) A scheme framed under sub-section (1) may provide for--

           (a) the establishment of any authority (whether described as

      such or  as a  committee or other body) for the implementation of

      the decision or directions of the Tribunal;

           (b) the  composition, jurisdiction,  powers and functions of

      the authority, the term of office and other conditions of service

      of, the  procedure to  be followed  by, and the manner of filling

      vacancies among, the members of the authority;

           (c) the  holding of  a minimum  number of  meetings  of  the

      authority every  year, the  quorum  for  such  meetings  and  the

      procedure thereat;

           (d) the  appointment  of  any  standing,  ad  hoc  or  other

      committees by the authority;

           (e) the  employment of  a Secretary  and other  staff by the

      authority, the pay and allowances and other conditions of service

      of such staff;

           (f) the constitution of a fund by the authority, the amounts

      that may  be credited  to such fund and the expenses to which the

      fund may be applied;

           (g) the  form and the manner in which accounts shall be kept

      by the authority;

           (h) the  submission of  an annual report by the authority of

      its activities;

           (i) the decisions of the authority which shall be subject to

      review;

           (j) the  constitution of  a committee for making such review

      and the procedure to be followed by such committee; and

           (k) any  other matter  which may  be necessary or proper for

      the effective implementation of the decision or directions of the

      Tribunal.

      (3) In  making provision  in any  scheme framed under sub-section

 (1) for  the establishment  of an  authority for  giving effect to the

 decision of  a Tribunal,  the Central Government may, having regard to

 the nature  of the  jurisdiction, powers  and functions required to be

 vested in  such authority  in accordance  with such  decision and  all

 other relevant  circumstances, declare  in the  said scheme  that such

 authority shall,  under the  name specified  in the  said scheme, have

 capacity  to  acquire,  hold  and  dispose  of  property,  enter  into

 contracts, sue  and be  sued and  do all such acts as may be necessary

 for the  proper exercise and discharge of its jurisdiction, powers and

 functions.

      (4) A scheme may empower the authority to make, with the previous

 approval of  the Central  Government, regulations for giving effect to

 the purposes of the scheme.

      (5) The  Central Government  may, by notification in the Official

 Gazette, add  to, amend,  or vary, any scheme framed under sub-section

 (1).

      (6) Every  scheme framed  under this  section shall  have  effect

 notwithstanding anything  contained in  any law  for the time being in

 force (other  than this Act) or any instrument having effect by Virtue

 of any law other than this Act.

      (7) Every  scheme and  every regulation made under a scheme shall

 be laid,  as soon  as may  be after  it is  made, before each House of

 Parliament, while  it is in session, for a total period of thirty days

 which may  be comprised  in one  session or  in two or more successive

 sessions, and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  immediately

 following the  session or  the  successive  sessions  aforesaid,  both

 Houses  agree  in  making  any  modification  in  the  scheme  or  the

 regulation or  both Houses  agree that  the scheme  or the  regulation

 should not be made, the scheme or the regulation shall thereafter have

 effect only  in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may

 be; so,  however, that  any such  modification or  annulment shall  be

 without prejudice  to the  validity of  anything previously done under

 that scheme or regulation."]

 7.  Prohibition of levy of seigniorage, etc.

      7.  Prohibition  of  levy  of  seigniorage,  etc.  (1)  No  State

 Government shall,  by reason  only of  the fact that any works for the

 conservation, regulation  or utilisation  of  water  resources  of  an

 inter-State river  have been  constructed within  the  limits  of  the

 State, impose,  or authorize  the imposition  of, any  seigniorage  or

 additional rate or fee (by whatever name called) in respect of the use

 of such water by any other State of the inhabitants thereof.

      (2)  Any   dispute  or  difference  between  two  or  more  State

 Governments  with   respect  to   the  levy   of  any  water  rate  in

 contravention of the prohibition contained in sub-section (1) shall be

 deemed to be a water dispute.

 8. Bar of reference of certain disputes to Tribunal.

      8.  Bar   of  reference   of  certain   disputes   to   Tribunal.

 Notwithstanding anything  contained in  section 3  or  section  5,  no

 reference shall  be made  to a  Tribunal of any dispute that may arise

 regarding any  matter which  may be  referred to arbitration under the

 River Boards Act, 2*[1956] (49 of 1956).

 9. Powers of Tribunal.

      9. Powers  of Tribunal.  (1) The  Tribunal shall  have  the  same

 powers as  are vested  in a  civil  court  under  the  Code  of  Civil

 Procedure, 1908  (5 of  1908),  in  respect of  the following matters,

 namely:--

           (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and

                examining him on oath;

           (b) requiring  the discovery and production of documents and

                material objects;

           (c) issuing  commissions for the examination of witnesses or

                for local investigation;

           (d) any other matter which may be prescribed.

      (2) The  Tribunal may  require any State Government to carry out,

 or permit  to be carried out, such surveys and investigation as may be

 considered necessary for the adjudication of any water dispute pending

 before it.

      (3) A  decision of the Tribunal  may contain directions as to the

 Government by  which the  expenses  of  the  Tribunal  and  any  costs

 incurred

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.  Ins.  by Act 45 of 1980, s.  2.

 2.   Subs. by Act 36 of 1957, s. 3 and Sch, II, for "1955".

 by any  State Government  in appearing  before the  Tribunal are to be

 paid, and  may fix  the amount of any expenses or costs to be so paid,

 and so  far as  it relates to expenses or costs, may be enforced as if

 it were an order made by the Supreme Court.

      (4) 1*[Subject  to the  provisions of this Act and any rules that

 may be  made thereunder],  the Tribunal  may, by  order, regulate  its

 practice and procedure.

 10. Allowances or fees for Chairman of Tribunal and assessors.

      10. Allowances  or fees  for Chairman  of Tribunal and assessors.

 2*[The Chairman  and other  members of  a Tribunal]  and the assessors

 shall be  entitled to receive such remuneration, allowances or fees as

 may be prescribed.

 11. Bar of jurisdiction of Supreme Court and other courts.

      11. Bar  of jurisdiction  of  Supreme  Court  and  other  courts.

 Notwithstanding anything  contained in  any  other  law,  neither  the

 Supreme Court  nor any other court shall have or exercise jurisdiction

 in respect  of any  water dispute  which may be referred to a Tribunal

 under this Act.

 12.  Dissolution of Tribunal.

      12.  Dissolution   of  Tribunal.  The  Central  Government  shall

 dissolve the Tribunal after it has forwarded its report and as soon as

 the Central  Government is  satisfied that no further reference to the

 Tribunal in the matter would be necessary.

 13. Power to make rules.

      13. Power  to make  rules.  (1)  The  Central  Government,  after

 consultation with  the State  Governments, may, by notification in the

 Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.

      (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the

 foregoing power,  such rules  may  provide  for  all  or  any  of  the

 following matters, namely:--

           (a) the form and manner in which a complaint as to any water

                dispute may be made by any State Government,

           (b) the matters in respect of which a Tribunal may be vested

                with the powers of a civil court:

           (c) the  procedure to  be followed  by a Tribunal under this

                Act;

           (d) the  remuneration, allowances  or fees payable to 3*[the

                Chairman  and   other  members]   of  a   Tribunal  and

                assessors;

           (e) the  terms and  conditions of service of officers of the

                Tribunal;

           (f) any other matter which has to be, or may be, prescribed.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 1.   Subs. by Act 35 of 1968, s. 5. for "Subject to any rules that may

 be made under this Act".

 2.   Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "The presiding officer of a Tribunal".

 3.   Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for "the presiding officer".

 296A

      1*[(3) Every  rule made  under this section shall be laid as soon

 as may  be after  it is made, before each House of Parliament while it

 is in  session for  a total  period of  thirty days,  2*[which may  be

 comprised in  one session  or in  two or more successive sessions, and

 if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session

 or the  successive sessions aforesaid] both Houses agree in making any

 modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not

 be made,  the rule  shall thereafter have effect only in such modified

 form or  be of  no effect,  as the  case may be; so, however, that any

 such modification  or annulment  shall be  without  prejudice  to  the

 validity of anything previously done under that rule.]

 14. Constitution of Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal.

      3*[14.  Constitution  of  Ravi  and  Beas  Waters  Tribunal.  (1)

 Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing provisions of this

 Act, the  Central Government  may, by  notification  in  the  Official

 Gazette, constitute a Tribunal under this Act, to be known as the Ravi

 and Beas  Waters Tribunal for the verification and adjudication of the

 matters referred  to in  paragraphs 9.1  and 9.2, respectively, of the

 Punjab Settlement.

      (2) When  a Tribunal  has been constituted under sub-section (1),

 the provisions  of sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 4, sub-sections

 (2), (3)  and (4)  of section 5 and sections 5A to 13 (both inclusive)

 of this  Act  relating  to  the  constitution,  jurisdiction,  powers,

 authority and bar of jurisdiction shall, so far as may be, but subject

 to sub-section  (3) hereof,  apply to  the constitution, jurisdiction,

 powers, authority  and bar of jurisdiction in relation to the Tribunal

 constituted under sub-section (1).

      (3) When  a Tribunal  has been constituted under sub-section (1),

 the Central  Government alone  may suo  motu or  at the request of the

 concerned State  Government refer  the matters specified in paragraphs

 9.1 and 9.2 of the Punjab Settlement to such Tribunal.

      Explanation.--For  the   purposes  of   this   section,   "Punjab

 Settlement" means  the Memorandum of Settlement signed at New Delhi on

 the 24th day of July, 1985.]

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 1.   Subs. by Act 35 of 1968, s. 7, for sub-section (3).

 2.   Subs. by Act 45 of 1980, s. 3.

 3.   Ins. by Act 20 of 1986, s. 2.