states diary
Supreme Court Rules Against Akali-BJP Government in SYL
I
n a setback to SAD-BJP government in Punjab, the Supreme Court
held as unconstitutional the state government’s law to terminate
a water-sharing agreement with other states by constructing
the Satluj-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal on its territory. A five-judge
Constitution Bench answered the Presidential Reference, opining that
Punjab cannot terminate the agreement unilaterally and its 2004 Act
was hence unconstitutional.
The Bench led by Justice Anil R Dave, reading out the verdict in
the court, said that all the questions referred to it by the President
have been answered in negative. This effectively meant that Punjab’s
attempt to wriggle out of the agreement to share water with Haryana,
Delhi and other states has been shot down. The Constitution Bench
judgment also restores the 2004 decree passed by the Supreme Court,
directing Punjab to construct the SYL canal on its territory. The
detailed judgment by the Bench is still to come out.
Tamil Nadu CM Recovers, May Be Discharged in 15 Days
T
amil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa may be
discharged from the Apollo Hospital in less
than 15 days, a senior AIADMK leader said
in Chennai on November 6th. “In less than 15
days she might be discharged. All her vital parameters are
under control. She is being given physiotherapy exercises,”
AIADMK spokesperson C Ponnaiyan said.
Asked about the decision to shift Jayalalithaa from the
critical care unit (CCU) to a private room, he said, “The
difference between the two is the existence of emergency
equipments.” A decision on shifting her to a private room
is yet to be taken by the doctors. Asked about Apollo
Hospitals Chairman Pratap C Reddy’s statement that
Jayalalithaa was fully cured and it was up to her to decide
when to go home, Ponnaiyan said everybody wanted
Jayalalithaa to return home as a completely fit person.
Sonowal-Himanta to Undergo Acid Test in Assam By-poll
B
y-polls in Assam slated on 19 November is likely to
be the BJP’s litmus test on the issue of Citizenship
Amendment Act. The ruling NDA’s move to pass the
amendment has faced stiff opposition from various
groups in Assam. Winning the by-polls may be deemed as a
green signal by the BJP to accept the much-debated bill. On
the other hand losing might make BJP think twice on it. Assam
is heading for by-polls on in the Lakhimpur parliamentary
constituency and Baithalangso Assembly constituency.
“In recent time BJP has seen a downfall in its popularity
graph in Assam due to the move taken by BJP-led NDA
government at the Centre to grant Hindu Bangladeshis Indian
citizenship by a new amendment in the Citizenship Act.
Hence this election may be like testing the waters about how
to go ahead with the bill, for the party,” said Naba Thakuria of
Patriotic People’s Front Assam.
November 16-30, 2016 The Dayafter
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