SC to hear Presidential reference with SYL in Sept

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear on September 18 the Presidential reference with regard to the construction of Satluj Yamuna Canal (SYL) which is the bone of conetention between Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice R V Raveendran and Justice Dalveer Bhandari today agreed with counsel of Haryana and said "we have to answer the Presidential reference which has been pending for a long time." The apex court fixed the date after hearing senior counsel Shanti Bhushan appearing for state of Haryana pressing for early hearing of the reference.

State of Punjab has passed a legislation to overreach the Supreme Court judgement directing Punjab and Haryana to complete the construction of SYL in a time bond manner.

The President has sought the advise of the apex court by way of reference whether a State Assembly can pass a legislation in interrogation of the Central legislation as well as in violation of the Supreme Court directions.

The reference is to be answered by a five judge constitution of this court. Since Punjab is not willing to give any water to Haryana and Delhi, it has not started the work of construction of SYL at their end.

UNI