In a major setback to the Punjab government, the Supreme Court on Thursday termed the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004, as invalid.
The apex court gave this verdict on the presidential reference of 2004 on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal controversy.
The controversy is on sharing of waters by states, including Punjab and Haryana.
A five-judge constitution Bench headed by Justice A. R. Dave, who is demitting office on November 18, reserved the verdict on May 12 after the Centre maintained its earlier stand of 2004, that the States concerned should settle their disputes on the matter by themselves.
The Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday held a meeting to decide its course of action in case the verdict was against Punjab’s interests.
Earlier, hours before the judgment, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said he would not let anyone enter the state in the event of an adverse judgment.
“Won’t let anyone enter Punjab when somebody wants to take our lifeline. Water is life for people of Punjab.
Let any government come, be it that of the US or Iraq to take away waters from us, we won’t let them take even a drop of water from Punjab,” he said.
Taking a dig at the Congress, he said, “It’s a drama created by the Congress. Capt Amarinder started all this drama. Why are they resigning from the government at a time when their term is going to be over? And why are they resigning only from the government? They should resign from the party since it’s the ex-PM of their party who has got this done. It’s a drama created by the Congress.”
Sukhbir repeated that his government would not resign and keep all control in its hands.
The Centre had said it was not taking sides and was maintaining a neutral stand in the matter in which the court has recorded the stand of other States — Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.