Number of Indian Americans in elected offices not reflective of their population: Kamala Harris
New Delhi, April 8: The Punjab government today pleaded in the Supreme Court for the setting up of a fresh tribunal to go into sharing of its river waters with the neighbouring states in the context of Riparian principle and dwindling water flow.
Arguing before a five-member Constitution Bench headed by Justice Anil R Dave, Punjab’s senior counsel Ram Jethmalani also pleaded that the Supreme Court should refuse to answer the Presidential reference on the validity of the Punjab Termination of Agreements, 2004, as the apex court was not bound to go into this.
He pointed out the Presidential reference had been done at the instance of the Centre which had no power to decide the water dispute. The reference had been made under Article 143(1) of the Constitution which clearly stated that the Supreme Court “may” answer it. This was quite contrary to references made under Article 143(2) which “shall” be answerable by the Supreme Court. A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court had said the apex court was not bound to entertain issues even under sub-clause 2, he said.
