Supreme Court Orders Centre to Form Tribunal for Pennaiyar River Dispute

CT Team 2 min read February 2, 2026 at 4:11 pm

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central Government to constitute a Water Disputes Tribunal within one month to resolve the long-pending Pennaiyar river water sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The direction was issued by a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice NV Anjaria, which delivered its judgment after reserving orders in December last year.

The dispute relates to the sharing and use of Pennaiyar river water between the two States. In September 2025, the Supreme Court had already been informed that the matter required adjudication by a Tribunal.

Background of the dispute

The State of Tamil Nadu had approached the Supreme Court by filing an original suit under Article 131 of the Constitution, naming Karnataka and the Union of India as respondents. During the hearings, it was noted that negotiations between the two States had failed to produce any outcome, following which the option of setting up a Tribunal was suggested.

However, the Union Government later informed the Court that Karnataka had requested more time for negotiations. Karnataka argued that its newly elected government (May 2023) had not been given an adequate opportunity to negotiate with Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu opposed this stand, stating that the Centre had already initiated steps to form a Tribunal but later withdrew from the process.

Legal position under the River Water Disputes Act

Karnataka contended that under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, a Tribunal can be formed only when the Central Government is satisfied that negotiations have failed.

In January 2024, the Supreme Court directed the formation of a fresh Negotiation Committee and noted that the Act allows one year for completing negotiations. However, in November 2024, the Court was informed that mediation between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had failed.

Considering these developments, the Supreme Court has now ordered the Centre to formally constitute a Tribunal to adjudicate the dispute.