The state government is likely to file a separate special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court against the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal Award on Krishna waters. Already, one SLP has been pending in the apex court filed by the state against the draft award of the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal.
After consulting legal experts and convening an all-party meeting once again, the state government will either file a separate SLP or file additional affidavits to the pending SLP. This decision was taken at an all-party meeting convened by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy here on Tuesday.
The opposition parties also wanted the government to launch political battle besides legal fight and wanted the chief minister to lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister. However, the TRS has decided not to be a party to the delegation to the Prime Minister, as the separate Telangana state would be formed and the new state could fight its rights over Krishna waters.
“Leading an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister will be decided later after consulting with legal experts,” major irrigation minister P Sudarshan Reddy said after the meeting. He, however, added that the government would once again convene an all-party meeting before filing an SLP in the Supreme Court. The minister said that the government would engage additional advocates and also provide legal help to the farmers’ associations to file a case against the Brijesh Tribunal in addition to the government’s case.
The minister assured that the government would take all steps to get right over the surplus waters of 227.5 tmc on which seven projects - three each in Telangana and Rayalaseema and one in Andhra region - were proposed.
During the all-party meeting, the chief minister said that after discussing all the issues raised and suggestions made by the leaders of the political parties with experts and legal authorities, an all- party meeting will again be convened to give a final shape to the fresh SLP.
The state government’s advocate Sudarshan Reddy, who argued before the Tribunal, also attended the meeting. Sudarshan Reddy told the meeting though they wanted to file written arguments, Brijesh Kumar did not accept them. But, the government assured that this time they would engage more number of advocates and fight for the rights of AP.
“The overall interests of the state will be protected. We will fight for water for all the projects including that of Mahbubnagar, Nalgonda and Rayalaseema districts,” the chief minister said.