SC directs Centre to set up tribunal for sharing of Pennaiyar river water
Updated: Feb 2nd, 2026
The Supreme Court has ordered the Central government to notify the constitution of a tribunal to settle the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over sharing of water flowing from the inter-state Pennaiyar/Dakshina Pinakini River, as per reports.
A two-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath and NV Anjaria has reportedly asked for these steps to be taken within a month. In November 2022, the Supreme Court criticised the Centre for the delay in resolving the dispute through negotiations.
The case was filed by the Tamil Nadu government in 2018, challenging the construction of check dams and diversion works by Karnataka on the Pennaiyar River. The state had argued that water in an inter-state river is a national asset and that no state can claim exclusive rights over it. There was an 1892 agreement over the river water that was valid and binding on the party state, as per the reports.
It was argued that the major tributary, that is Markandeyanadhi, has its catchment area both in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and it can not be considered to be out of the range of the Agreement, therefore any new construction that obstructs the flow of the Markandeya river will be governed and controlled by 1892 Agreement.
The state told the top court that Karnataka’s stand was that it is free to construct any division structure or large dams across Markandeya river and it was completely unreasonable.
Earlier, in January 2019, the Court had permitted the State of Tamil Nadu to approach it for the constitution of a tribunal to address the long-standing issue. Subsequently, in May, the Supreme Court granted an additional extension of time for the same.
In 2023, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti informed the apex court that the Union Cabinet had not yet taken a final decision on the proposal to establish the Pennaiyar Water Disputes Tribunal, even though the proposal had been forwarded for approval through the Cabinet Secretariat.The Court reserved its judgment in the matter in December 2025.
