Article 262 and the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
Inter-state river water disputes in India are governed by Article 262 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to provide for adjudication of disputes relating to the use, distribution, or control of waters of inter-state rivers or river valleys. Article 262(2) further allows Parliament to bar even the Supreme Court from exercising jurisdiction in such disputes. Pursuant to this, Parliament enacted the Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956, which provides for the constitution of ad hoc Water Disputes Tribunals when negotiations between states fail. Tribunal awards, once published in the Official Gazette, have the same force as a decree of the Supreme Court.
- Constitutional provision: Article 262 of the Constitution of India
- Implementing legislation: Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956
- Tribunal composition: a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge as chairman, assisted by two other judicial members
- Tribunal awards: published in Official Gazette; bind state governments; legally equivalent to a Supreme Court decree
- The Supreme Court has limited original jurisdiction over inter-state river disputes under Article 262 — it can be excluded by Parliament from entertaining such disputes
● Tracked since June 22, 2026 · last seen August 30, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes