Punjab-Haryana water row: HC to decide on contempt notice; BBMB alleges police interference

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday said the only issue before the bench now is whether a contempt notice needs to be issued in the ongoing Punjab-Haryana water dispute.

The development comes three days after the Punjab government was directed to release 4,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana and refrain from interfering in the functioning of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).

The matter was brought before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel after the BBMB chairman alleged on Thursday that Punjab Police had prevented him from releasing water to Haryana.

The proceedings, which began around noon, were adjourned till 4 pm to allow the court to examine the affidavit submitted by the BBMB chairman, along with the minutes of a meeting chaired by the Union Home Secretary on May 2.

It was claimed in the meeting that Punjab had agreed to release the additional water over eight days to meet Haryana’s urgent requirements.

The hearing took place amid a ‘no work’ call given by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association. Initially, Chief Justice Nagu termed the protest “unfortunate” and said the entire system would collapse if people chose to stay home.

He reminded the lawyers that they could still attend proceedings through video conferencing under the “work from home” option.

Senior advocate Rajesh Garg, representing the BBMB, told the court that the situation on the ground had become so tense that the chairman could not even consider returning to his office.

He claimed the chairman had no escort and that police had taken over the building.