SYL canal row: SC defers hearing till March 2

New Delhi [India] Feb. 22 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused the Punjab government's plea seeking to postpone the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue after March 11 and deferred the matter for further hearing till March 2. The apex court further asked the government of Punjab and Haryana to maintain law and order. "We have already passed the decree and also ordered to maintain a status quo in the matter," the apex court observed. Last week, the apex court had refused to hear the Punjab Government's plea seeking to adjourn the matter till the state elections results are announced. Senior lawyer Ram Jethmalani, appearing for the Punjab government, sought an adjournment after March 11. On January 17, the apex court had asked both the Haryana and Punjab Governments to file their respective replies on the issue within three weeks. The apex court had in November last year, termed the law passed by the Punjab government in 2004 to terminate the SYL canal water sharing agreement with neighbouring states as 'unconstitutional'. Holding that the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 was not being in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution, the top court answered in the negative to all the four questions referred to it in a presidential reference. A constitution bench of the court ruled that Punjab could not and should not have taken a 'unilateral' decision to terminate the agreement with Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh to share of the Ravi-Beas river waters. (ANI)