Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Chairman resigns

Chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Justice N P Singh has resigned from his post citing ill health.

Sources in the water resources ministry said Justice Singh, 80, had sent his resignation papers earlier this week.

The Tribunal, which gave its final award on February 5, 2007, asking Karnataka to ensure 192 thousand metric cubit feet of water annually at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, is scheduled to hear an application moved by the Tamil Nadu government on April 17.

"But following his resignation, the hearing is set to be deferred," a senior ministry official said.

The Tribunal was constituted in 1990. Justice N P Singh was appointed its chairman after the then incumbent Justice Chittatosh Mookerjee resigned.

Under the provisions of the Inter-state Water Disputes Act, 1956, the Centre can appoint a sitting Judge of the Supreme Court or a high court as chairman of a water dispute tribunal.