Punjab Police Obstructed Release Of Dam Water To Haryana Despite Court Order: Bhakra Beas Management Board Chief Claims In High Court

Amid the ongoing dispute between the states of Punjab and Haryana over sharing of Bhakra Nangal dam water, the High Court today asked the Chairman of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to file on affidavit his claim that the Punjab Police stopped him from releasing water to Haryana.Pertinent to note that on May 7, the High Court passed an order restraining the Punjab police from "interfering" in the day-to-day functioning of the dam.However, appearing through video conference mode, BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi apprised the Court that two BBMB officers who were directed to release 200 cusecs water to Haryana were restrained by the police agency.The Chairman himself claimed to be "gheraoed" at the guest house by some civilians, when the Punjab Police rescued him.A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel directed Tripathi to file his statement on affidavit.The Court further directed that Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain to produce the relevant minutes of meeting dated May 2, where it was decided to release 4500 cusecs extra water to Haryana in 8 days, for meeting emergent needs of the State.The matter is now adjourned to May 9.The development comes in a contempt petition moved by a Gram Panchayat, alleging that the irrespective of the High Court order asking the Punjab Police not to interfere with the day to day activities of the Board, the agency restrained the BBMB officers from discharging their duties.It was alleged that high ranking officials of State of Punjab under the patronage of Senior Minister illegally obstructed the officials of the BBMB from the compliance of the order. The plea alleges that the Punjab Chief Secretary, DGP and Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains are directly involved in the episode of detaining the Chairman and other high ranking officials of BBMB.“The forcible action of the State of Punjab through Punjab Police in the functioning of the BBMB lead to lawlessness…Such illegal act and action of the State of Punjab erodes public trust which is sacrosanct right to liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” states the plea.After hearing the Chairman for sometime, the Court ordered him to file his statements on an affidavit. It also asked the Central government counsel to inform who is the competent authority under the Bhakra Beas Management Board Rules 1974, to decide Punjab's 'dissent'.Advocate R Kartikeye appeared for the Gram Panchayat.Senior counsel Rajesh Garg represented BBMB.Senior counsel Gurminder Singh with AG Maninderjit Singh Bedi appeared for the Punjab Government.Advocate General Pravindra Singh Chauhan with Additional Advocates General Deepak Balyan and Naveen S Bhardwaj appeared for Haryana Government.ASG Satya Pal Jain with Senior Panel Counsel Dheeraj Jain appeared for the Union of India.Title: Gram Panchayat, Matana v. State of Punjab and ors

Punjab Police Obstructed Release Of Dam Water To Haryana Despite Court Order: Bhakra Beas Management Board Chief Claims In High Court

Aiman J. Chishti

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