The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday directed the Central government to produce the minutes of meeting dated May 2 in which a decision was taken to release additional water from Bhakra Nangal dam to Haryana..The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel passed the order on an application moved by Gram Panchayat Matana which prayed for deployment of central forces at Bhakra Nangal Dam, which is under the operational control of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).The dam has been a subject of controversy since Punjab Police allegedly prevented the BBMB for releasing additional water for Haryana and some parts of Rajasthan..The High Court had on Tuesday directed the Punjab government and Punjab Police to refrain from interfering with the functioning of the Bhakra Nangal dam."State of Punjab and any of its functionaries, including police personnel, are restrained from interfering in the day-to-day functioning, operation and regulation of the Bhakra Nangal Dam and Lohand control Room water Regulation offices managed by BBMB," the Court had ordered.It had also directed the Punjab government to comply with the recent decision to release additional 4,500 cusecs of water for meeting the emergent needs of Haryana and some parts of Rajasthan. The decision had been taken at the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Union of Home Secretary. The meeting had been held to resolve the water sharing dispute between Punjab and Haryana..Today, BBMB Chairman Manoj Tripathi submitted before the Court that the board's officials were restrained from releasing the water by Punjab Police despite the court order. It was also submitted that he himself was gheraoed by a mob at guest house. However, he clarified that he was saved by Punjab Police. "We will be filing an FIR separately. It is a serious issue," Tripathi said.The Court then asked Tripathi to give the statement on affidavit. "The aforesaid statement be made on an affidavit and filed by the Chairman of BBMB by tomorrow itself.".Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain was also directed to produce the relevant minutes of meeting convened on May 2 under the chairmanship of Union Home Secretary. Jain then submitted that the minutes were not recorded but a press note was issued regarding the meeting. However, the Court questioned how minutes could not have been recorded for a formal meeting."If a meeting was held under the Chairmanship of the Home Secretary to the Government of India, then obviously it has to be a formal meeting based on the request of any of the dissenting State member and therefore, the Union of India is directed to produce the minutes of the said meeting on the next date of hearing," the Court ordered..The Court also asked the Central government counsel to inform it about the competent authority designated to deal with the representation of party aggrieved of decisions made by the BBMB.The case will be taken up for hearing on Friday afternoon..Advocate R Kartikeye with advocates R Akanksha and Kartik Patia represented the Gram Panchayat. Senior Advocate Rajesh Garg with advocate Neha Matharo represented BBMB.Senior Advocate Gurminder Singh and Additional Advocate General Maninder Singh represented the State of Punjab.Advocate General Pravindra Singh Chauhan with Additional Advocate General Deepak Balyan represented the State of Haryana.Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain with Senior Panel Counsel Dheeraj Jain appeared for the Union of India..[Read Order]
