Appointment of Chairman and Member of Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal

## Report on Amendment to the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal Notification **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the Government of India’s notification regarding the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal, specifically notification number S.O. 169E, dated April 2nd, 1986. The amendment, published on April 22nd, 2022, addresses vacancies within the Tribunal following Justice Ashok Bhushan's appointment as Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal and the unfortunate demise of Justice M.Y. Eqbal. The key change involves the substitution of the Chairman and a Member of the Tribunal with Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao, respectively. This amendment ensures the continued operation and adjudication capabilities of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a detailed overview and analysis of the amendment to the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal notification (S.O. 169E, dated April 2nd, 1986), as published on April 22nd, 2022. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the amendment. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy Amended:** This report concerns an *amendment* to the original notification S.O. 169E, dated April 2nd, 1986, which established the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal. This notification was further amended vide notification number S.O. 2444E, dated 27th July, 2020. * **Core Objective(s):** Based on the text, the amendment’s core objective is to ensure the continued functioning of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal by filling vacancies that have arisen due to specific circumstances. This maintains the Tribunal's ability to address inter-state river water disputes as per the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment addresses two vacancies within the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal. One vacancy occurred due to Justice Ashok Bhushan accepting a position as Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal. The second vacancy arose due to the demise of Justice M.Y. Eqbal. Without filling these vacancies, the Tribunal's operational capacity would be significantly impaired. The amendment ensures the Tribunal has the necessary judicial expertise to continue its mandated tasks. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment directly impacts item 1 and item 2 of the original notification (S.O. 169E), which likely specified the members of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal. The changes are as follows: * **Specific Part Changed:** Items 1 and 2 of the original notification, relating to the Chairman and a Member of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal respectively. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment substitutes the entries for the Chairman and a Member with the following: * "1 Shri Justice Vineet Saran, Chairman Judge of the Supreme Court" * "2 Shri Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao, Judge of Telangana High Court Member." * **Difference/Effect:** This amendment replaces the previous Chairman and Member (whose names and positions are not provided in this text) with Justice Vineet Saran and Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao. The practical effect is the reconstitution of the Tribunal with new judicial members, enabling it to resume its functions. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary stakeholders affected by this amendment are: * **The Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal itself:** The amendment directly impacts its composition and operational capacity. * **States involved in the Ravi and Beas water dispute:** The amendment ensures the Tribunal can continue adjudicating the dispute, directly affecting their water rights and resource management. * **The Ministry of Jal Shakti:** The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation within the ministry is responsible for the notification and therefore impacted by the administrative changes. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Jal Shakti, specifically the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, is the responsible agency. The Chief Justice of India plays a crucial role in nominating judges to fill the vacancies. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment is effective from the date of its publication (April 22nd, 2022). The procedure for filling the vacancies involves nomination by the Chief Justice of India, followed by formal appointment by the Central Government through this notification. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this amendment is the seamless continuation of the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal's operations. By filling the vacancies, the Tribunal can continue to address the ongoing water dispute, ensuring fair and equitable distribution of water resources among the involved states. The potential impact of this amendment is the avoidance of delays or disruptions in the resolution process, ultimately contributing to stability and cooperation in water resource management. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the Ravi and Beas Waters Tribunal notification is a crucial administrative action to maintain the Tribunal's functionality. By appointing Justice Vineet Saran as Chairman and Justice Ponugoti Naveen Rao as a Member, the amendment ensures the Tribunal can continue its important work of adjudicating the Ravi and Beas water dispute. This is significant for the involved states and for the overall management of water resources in the region. The speed with which the vacancies were filled reflects the government's commitment to resolve interstate water disputes in a timely manner.

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