Madras High Court upholds Tamil Nadu's Mekedatu resolution amendment

The Madras High Court has rejected a writ petition filed by AIADMK whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy seeking to quash amendments to the Mekedatu resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan upheld the amendment in their judgment, dismissing challenges to the legislative measure.

The amendment to the resolution provides for the constitution of a tribunal to resolve the longstanding water-sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Mekedatu project on the Cauvery river. The tribunal mechanism is intended to facilitate negotiations between the two states on an issue that has remained contentious for years.

The court's decision validates the Tamil Nadu Assembly's legislative action and removes a legal impediment to moving forward with the tribunal framework. The ruling marks a significant development in efforts to address the inter-state water dispute through institutional mechanisms.

The dismissal of the petition underscores the court's position that the assembly's amendment to establish the tribunal falls within the scope of legislative authority. The judgment is expected to facilitate further dialogue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on resolving their differences over the Cauvery waters.