SYL: Contempt writ to be heard with Presidential Reference

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed that contempt of court petition filed by Pratap Singh Chautala, younger brother of former Haryana Chief Minister O.P. Chautala, against Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for not complying with the apex court orders to complete the construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal shall be heard along with Presidential reference on the issue.

A bench comprising Justices Ruma Pal, Dalveer Bhandari and Markandey Katju issued the direction saying that since the Presidential reference has already been referred to the Constitution bench , this contempt petition should also be heard along with that.

The Amarinder Singh Government had passed a Bill in the state assembly last year abrogating all water-sharing agreements. Haryana government protested alleging that it was an attempt by the Punjba Chief Minister to deny the share of Haryana in water of rivers flowing through both the states.

State of Haryana had mentioned the matter before the bench headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal last month for earlier hearing the Presidential reference which had sought opinion of the apex court whether the legislation passed by Punjab was unconstitutional. The court had however told senior counsel Shanti Bhushan appearing for Haryana to try his luck in July after summer vacations as 38 other equally important matters were awaiting hearing by the five judge constitution bench.

UNI AKS/SC RP HT1757