Saturday, April 23, 2011

Punjab Bill on SYL, the Punjab Water Agreement Termination Act, 2004 challenged by Naresh Kadyan vide C.W.P No. 11091 of 2004

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A public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Punjab Termination of Agreements Bill 2004 has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The Act annuls the 1981 Indira Gandhi award and subsequent agreements relating to the distribution of Ravi- Beas waters among Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

In his petition, Mr Naresh Kumar Kadian of Rohtak in Haryana has questioned the validity of Act, passed recently by the Punjab Assembly. He has sought quashing of the Act.

He has also prayed that the recent judgement of the Supreme Court regarding the completion of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal be immediately ordered to be complied with.

Today, the case could not be taken up and will be listed for tomorrow before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mr Justice B.K. Roy and Mr Justice Surya Kant.

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Water
top priority: Cong MP
Asks people to write to President & CJI for prompt disposal of SYL issue

Nangal Chaudhary, April 10
The Congress MP from Gurgaon, Rao Inderjeet Singh, has exhorted the people of South Haryana to write to the President and the Chief Justice of India for prompt disposal of the presidential reference on channelising the surplus Ravi-Beas waters to southern Haryana through the SYL canal.

Addressing a “Jal Rally” here today, the MP pointed out that the matter had been pending for nearly seven years. The President had referred the contentious issue to the Supreme Court after the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Termination of (Water) Agreements Act in 2004, annulling the tripartite agreement signed by the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in the presence of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981.

Rao Inderjeet Singh said in Haryana the management and uniform distribution of water and not the Lokpal Bill was the top priority. “We have been living with corruption and the country has seen a sound economicgrowth...Hence, the Lokpal Bill can wait,” he maintained.

Criticising the media for making a big deal of Anna Hazare sitting on fast against corruption, he said: “If 500 people gather in New Delhi, the issue assumes significance while even if 50,000 people assemble here, it is played down.”

Congress MP Shruti Choudhry and party spokesperson Ved Prakash Vidrohi also addressed the gathering. Union Water Resources Minister Salman Khursheed, who was to be the chief guest, did not turn up. Explaining his absence, Rao Inderjeet said he (Khursheed) was in Tamil Nadu for campaigning. Congress MP, AICC secretary and co-incharge of Haryana affairs, Tara Chand Bhagora, the party’s observer for today’s rally, said he would convey the people’s concerns to the party high command.



SC delay in deciding Presidential reference
State demands union minister’s intervention
Chandigarh, April 22

Peeved at the inordinate delay by the Supreme Court in deciding the Presidential reference on the Termination of Agreements Act passed by the Punjab Assembly, the Haryana Government has sought intervention of Union Minister for Water Resources Salman Khurshid in the issue.

The Punjab Assembly had passed the controversial Act in 2004 when the Congress ruled the state so that the construction of the SYL canal could not be completed as ordered by the Supreme Court. Following a representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi by party MPs from Haryana, among others, the matter was referred by the President to the Supreme Court to decide on the constitutional validity of the Punjab Act. The apex court is yet to pronounce its verdict.

Haryana is worried over the delay because the construction of the SYL canal, which is the lifeline of the state, has also been held up.

Haryana Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav urged Khurshid to take up the issue with the Attorney-General of India, who, in turn, should request the apex court for an early decision. Yadav pointed out to Khurshid that this was perhaps the only Presidential reference, which had not been decided by the Supreme Court for more than seven years.

He also attached a list of Presidential references made to the Supreme Court since 1951, which, he said, had been decided by the apex court in year in which these references were made.

Yadav regretted that the matter was not being listed despite being mentioned several times by the Haryana Government in all these years. He said an application was also filed in this regard in August, 2010. “It gives us a feeling that the Government of India has not followed up the matter with the Supreme Court,” he added.

He said the issue was very important for Haryana, especially for the southern part of the state, which was deprived of water due to the non-completion of the SYL canal by Punjab. Yadav also expressed the hope that the early decision on the Presidential reference by the Supreme Court would also help resolve the Hansi-Butana canal issue.

It may be recalled that the Hansi-Butana canal has not been able to work because of a stay order by the apex court.

NARESH KADYAN

नई दिल्ली। हरियाणा और पंजाब के बीच दशकों पुरानी पानी की जंग राष्ट्रपति दरबार तक पहुंच गई है। प्रदेश के सिंचाई मंत्री कैप्टन अजय सिंह यादव ने सतलुज यमुना लिंक नहर (एसवाईएल) के पानी के लिए राष्ट्रपति प्रतिभा पाटिल को पत्र लिखकर इस मामले में स्वयं हस्तक्षेप करने का आग्रह किया है।

एसवाईएल को लेकर सुप्रीम कोर्ट में सात साल से मामला लंबित है। एसवाईएल मसले को देश के 60 साल के न्यायिक इतिहास का सर्वाधिक समय तक लंबित संदर्भ करार देते हुए कैप्टन यादव ने इसके निपटारे को लेकर केंद्र सरकार की मंशा पर भी सवाल उठाया है।

कैप्टन के पत्र के मुताबिक, मुझे महसूस होता है कि केंद्र सरकार ने संदर्भ को लेकर सुप्रीम कोर्ट में फालोअप नहीं किया है। राज्य सरकार के तमाम प्रयासों के बावजूद सुप्रीम कोर्ट की संविधान पीठ के सामने यह मामला सात साल बीत जाने के बावजूद नियमित सुनवाई पर नहीं आ सका है’।

कैप्टन यादव ने राष्ट्रपति से आग्रह किया है कि वे मामले को जल्द से जल्द निपटाने के लिए अपने प्रभाव का प्रयोग करके केंद्र सरकार के संबंधित विभागों को लंबित संदर्भ की सुनवाई जल्द से जल्द सुनिश्चित कराने को कहें ताकि दक्षिणी हरियाणा की दशकों पुरानी पानी की कमी दूर हो सके।

सिंचाई मंत्री ने कहा है कि मामले के निपटारे में हो रही देरी से क्षेत्र के लोगों का न्यायिक प्रक्रिया में विश्वास प्रभावित हो सकता है। गौरतलब है कि सिंचाई मंत्री इससे पहले जल संसाधन मंत्री सलमान खुर्शीद को भी पत्र लिख चुके हैं।

तो हमें देर क्यों

यादव ने अब तक के न्यायिक इतिहास में उन मामलों की सूची भेजी है, जिनका फैसला सुप्रीम कोर्ट में एक साल में हो गया। इसी को आधार बनाते हुए एसवाईएल के मामले को भी जल्द सुलझाने की अपील की है।

पानी नहीं आया पर 600 करोड़ डूबे

करीब 108 किलोमीटर लंबी एसवाईएल पर अब तक 600 करोड़ रुपए खर्च हो चुके हैं। रखरखाव पर भी अलग से खर्च किया जा रहा है।

पंजाब ने लगाया अड़ंगा

सिंचाई मंत्री ने राष्ट्रपति को एसवाईएल मामले की समूची पृष्ठभूमि से अवगत कराते हुए बताया है कि सुप्रीम कोर्ट दो बार हरियाणा के पक्ष में फैसला दे चुका है। इसके बावजूद पंजाब सरकार ने रावी व्यास के जल बंटवारे से संबंधित सभी करार एकतरफा ढंग से निरस्त कर दिए।

तात्कालिक राष्ट्रपति ने 22 जुलाई 2004 को संविधान के अनुच्छेद 142 के तहत पंजाब की एकतरफा कार्यवाही की वैधानिकता पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट की राय मांगी थी, जो अब तक बकाया है।

To: Hon'ble Speaker, Haryana Assembly, Vice President of India (Hon'ble Shri Hamid Ansari), HE The Governor of Haryana, Prime Minister of India (Hon;ble Sardar Manmohan Sngh), Director(Public/Staff Griev.), Ministry of Water Resources (Shri. Khatchin Langel), President of India, New Delhi (HE Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil), Chief Justice of India (Hon'be the Chief Justice of India), Hon'ble Speaker Lok Sabha, Chairperson, UPA and President, AICC (Smt. Sonia Gandhi), Punjab and Haryana High Court (Hon'ble Chief Justice), Chief Minister, Haryana (Ch. Bhupinder Singh Hooda), and ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR INDIA (SHRI GOOLAM E. VAHANVATI)
Subject: Water top priority :President & CJI for prompt disposal of SYL issue - Naresh Kadyan
Letter: Greetings, ,

The people of South Haryana should write to the President of India and the Chief Justice of India for prompt disposal of the presidential reference on channelizing the surplus Ravi-Beas waters to southern Haryana through the Satluz Yamuna Link - SYL canal, this matter had been pending for nearly seven years. The President had referred the contentious issue to the Supreme Court after the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Termination of (Water) Agreements Act in 2004, annulling the tripartite agreement signed by the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan in the presence of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981. Gandhian Ideologist, philosopher and social reformer Naresh Kadyan moved public interest litigation - PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against Punjab Assembly decision, which is cine die due to matter pendancy in the Supreme Court of India.
It would be pertinent to mention here that the ground water level is decreasing day by day and there are no water in some places, these effected people have right to live or to commit suicide with out water. Now we have decided to sit at Janter Manter for indefinite hunger strike on 15th August, 2011, if concerned authorities failed to resolve the issue.
Complaint lodged - MINWR/E/2011/00049 with the Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances on 11 Apr 2011.

SC delay in deciding Presidential reference, State demands union minister’s intervention
Media reports..............
Peeved at the inordinate delay by the Supreme Court in deciding the Presidential reference on the Termination of Agreements Act passed by the Punjab Assembly, the Haryana Government has sought intervention of Union Minister for Water Resources Salman Khurshid in the issue.
The Punjab Assembly had passed the controversial Act in 2004 when the Congress ruled the state so that the construction of the SYL canal could not be completed as ordered by the Supreme Court. Following a representation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi by party MPs from Haryana, among others, the matter was referred by the President to the Supreme Court to decide on the constitutional validity of the Punjab Act. The apex court is yet to pronounce its verdict.
Haryana is worried over the delay because the construction of the SYL canal, which is the lifeline of the state, has also been held up.
Haryana Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav urged Khurshid to take up the issue with the Attorney-General of India, who, in turn, should request the apex court for an early decision. Yadav pointed out to Khurshid that this was perhaps the only Presidential reference, which had not been decided by the Supreme Court for more than seven years.
He also attached a list of Presidential references made to the Supreme Court since 1951, which, he said, had been decided by the apex court in year in which these references were made.
Yadav regretted that the matter was not being listed despite being mentioned several times by the Haryana Government in all these years. He said an application was also filed in this regard in August, 2010. “It gives us a feeling that the Government of India has not followed up the matter with the Supreme Court,” he added.
He said the issue was very important for Haryana, especially for the southern part of the state, which was deprived of water due to the non-completion of the SYL canal by Punjab. Yadav also expressed the hope that the early decision on the Presidential reference by the Supreme Court would also help resolve the Hansi-Butana canal issue.
It may be recalled that the Hansi-Butana canal has not been able to work because of a stay order by the apex court.
Shri Abhishek Kadyan, Media Adviser to the International Organisation for Animal Protection - OIPA in India and Ms. Sukanya Kadyan, Director of PFA Haryana are hereby authorized to deliver our petition in person to you.

Signed By:

Name Location Date
Abhishek Kadyan Delhi, India 04/10/2011
Naresh Kadyan Secretary General Delhi, IN 04/10/2011
Sharda Kadyan Delhi, IN 04/10/2011
marissa abramovic Edenton, NC 04/10/2011
Jennie Boatman Round Rock, TX 04/10/2011
Robin Kivett Webb City, MO 04/10/2011
Brandy Ramos San Antonio, TX 04/10/2011
sophia dalle nyc, NY 04/10/2011
Peggy Acosta Womelsdorf, PA 04/10/2011
Naresh Kadyan Delhi, IN 04/10/2011
Sukanya Kadyan Delhi, India 04/10/2011
Cyndi Mears Chicago, IL 04/10/2011
DONNA MOCK MEDFORD, OR 04/10/2011
Rick Tonsing Fair Oaks, CA 04/10/2011
Robert Scott Wolfe Cranston, RI 04/10/2011
Chelsea Madison Oakand, CA 04/10/2011
Ani L. Schwartz Arroyo Seco, NM 04/10/2011
Michele Mercer Casa Grande, AZ 04/10/2011
Jon Spinac New York, NY 04/10/2011
John Shay Jr Hagerstown, MD 04/11/2011
Maria F. Verona, Italy 04/11/2011
Bill Craig Kempten, Germany 04/11/2011
Andrew Heugel Brewster, NY 04/11/2011
Elisabeth Bechmann St. Pölten, Austria 04/11/2011
Jennifer Hall Greeneville, TN 04/11/2011
Eva Fidjeland Orrefors, Sweden 04/11/2011
Andreia Capelo Funchal, Portugal 04/11/2011
Pamylle Greinke Peconic, NY 04/11/2011
Anneke Hut Amersfoort, Netherlands 04/11/2011
Rajender Yadav New Delh, ID 04/11/2011
Dipak Kumar Singh New Delhi, India 04/11/2011
carlee trent springfield, OH 04/11/2011
Judith Abel Basel, Switzerland 04/11/2011
Bob Ramczyk Brown Deer, WI 04/11/2011
Carol Ripley Hertford, United Kingdom 04/11/2011
Susannah Kegler San Pedro, CA 04/11/2011
Patrick M. Donovan Brooklyn, NY 04/11/2011
Nicole Weber Pasadena, MD 04/11/2011
Stephen Greene Ellerbe, NC 04/11/2011
Cristi Sturgill Mount Vernon, KY 04/11/2011
Jill Vickerman Yzerfontein, TX 04/11/2011
Ellen G Sussex, WI 04/11/2011
patricia m lasek barneveld, NY 04/11/2011
Amanda Jones Apex, NC 04/11/2011
Cindy Brower Chicago, IL 04/11/2011
M Mock Medford, OR 04/11/2011
Jim Mock Medford, OR 04/11/2011
Lindsey Poore federalsburg, MD 04/11/2011
Carol Appel los Angeles, CA 04/11/2011
Diana Ferreira Paços de Ferreira, Portugal 04/11/2011
Ann Cawley Saint Joseph, MO 04/11/2011
Chantal Buslot Hasselt, AL 04/11/2011
Dick Lee Grand Rapids, MI 04/11/2011
Pooja Prasad New Delhi, India 04/11/2011
Scott Burbridge Takoma Park, MD 04/11/2011
Lee Margulies Stony Brook, NY 04/11/2011
Klaudio Negric Rijeka, Croatia 04/11/2011
lori weber johnson city, TN 04/11/2011
Inge Lewis Conway, SC 04/11/2011
Ivan Castelló Barcelona, Spain 04/11/2011
Tamela Mullin ST Joseph, MI 04/11/2011
Trevor Hansen Herkimer, NY 04/11/2011
Shannon Cowett Chantilly, VA 04/11/2011
Elisabeth Kelly Washington, DC 04/11/2011
james m nordlund Fargo, ND 04/11/2011
Yasiu Kruszynski Chicago, IL 04/11/2011
Barbara Witt jackson, SC 04/12/2011
peter kikic oshawa, Canada 04/12/2011
john kegler san pedro, CA 04/12/2011
Patrick Taylor San Francisco, CA 04/12/2011
Courtney VanOrder Spring Hope, NC 04/12/2011
darius dirzinskas london, United Kingdom 04/12/2011
Cristina Seica Anadia, Portugal 04/12/2011
Vanditta Diwakar Suva, HI 04/12/2011
Kim O'Connor N. Saanich, Canada 04/12/2011
carol crunkhorn New Zealand, FM 04/13/2011
Asli Gedik frankfurt, Netherlands 04/13/2011
Paola Ghidotti Milano, Italy 04/13/2011
cate murray Langley Park, Durham, United Kingdom 04/13/2011
lisbeth Jensen Dronninglund, Denmark 04/14/2011
Echo G. Ashland, OH 04/14/2011
Shannon Bucci littleton, CO 04/14/2011
Levin Manabat Portland, OR 04/14/2011
Ellaine Lurie-Janicki West Haven, CT 04/15/2011
Kitty Autumn Catopia, United Kingdom 04/16/2011
James Walker janesville, WI 04/17/2011
Andrea Oefinger Newtown, CT 04/18/2011
Richard wilson El dorado hills, CA 04/23/2011
Edward Laurson Denver, CO 04/23/2011