In a recent development in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Central Government, Haryana, and the BBMB to respond to Punjab’s request to change or cancel a previous court order issued on May 6. The order had directed Punjab to follow a decision made during a meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel gave the directions on Wednesday and advanced the next hearing to May 20 — earlier than the originally scheduled date of May 28.
Punjab, represented by senior advocate Gurminder Singh, argued that the May 6 order was based on wrong information. He said the court was led to believe that a May 2 meeting, chaired by the Union Home Secretary, had decided on the release of 4,500 cusecs of extra water to Haryana. However, Punjab later found out that:
The meeting did not have a clear agenda.
The Union Home Secretary did not have the authority to make decisions about water sharing.
The official meeting minutes were only shared with the states on May 9 — after the court had already given its order.
Punjab claims the court’s May 6 order was based on incorrect and misleading statements by the BBMB, Haryana, and the Central Government. The state has now asked the court to correct this. The case will be heard again on May 20.
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