SC Constitution Bench to hear Mullaperiyar issue on Jan 19

The Supreme Court Constitution Bench will begin the hearing of the Mullaperiyar dam dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on January 19. 



A five-judge constitution bench comprising Justices D K Jain, B Sudarshan Reddy, M K Sharma, R M Lodha and Deepak Verma fixed January 19 for hearing of the suit filed by the state of Tamil Nadu, which is opposing the proposal of construction of a new dam to replace Mullaperiyar dam which, according to the state of Kerala, has outlived its sanctioned life and was badly damaged at several places on its base. 



A three-judge bench had earlier referred the matter to the Constitution Bench in view of some important questions of law of great public importance having been raised in the matter. 



The issues also included authentic pronouncement and interpretation of several articles of the Constitution of India. 



Kerala Legislative Assembly had passed a law to bypass the judgement of the apex court vide which, the Tamil Nadu government was permitted to raise the height of the dam. 



Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala had challenged the validity of the Act. 



According to the Kerala government, if the dam gives way, it would prove disastrous for the people of the state as millions would be rendered homeless and there would be heavy loss of life and property. 



Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has already permitted the Kerala government to carry out a survey for the new dam.