NEW DELHI: In a strong message to Punjab, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said its verdict allowing construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal in Haryana and Punjab has to be implemented.
The court, however, clarified that it would deliberate upon Punjab’s contention on whether the judgment of a five-judge Constitution Bench, which held its law unconstitutional, was binding.
A five-judge Bench, while answering the Presidential Reference on November 11, 2016, had held that the Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004 was unconstitutional as it negated the effect of the apex court judgments of 2002 and 2004.
Senior advocate R S Suri, appearing for Punjab, said the five-judge Bench verdict was not binding as it was given under its advisory jurisdiction and the Punjab law still stands.