Article 262
Inter-State Water Disputes
Article 262 of the Indian Constitution grants Parliament the power to provide for the adjudication of any dispute relating to the use, distribution, or control of waters of any inter-state river or river valley. It has two key clauses:
- Article 262(1): Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-state river or river valley.
- Article 262(2): Parliament may by law provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint.
Significance: Article 262(2) is extraordinary — it is one of the few provisions in the Constitution that explicitly ousts the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. This makes the tribunal the final adjudicating authority for inter-state water disputes; parties cannot directly approach the Supreme Court.
- Article 262 operationalised by: The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 (ISRWD Act)
- The Supreme Court's jurisdiction is ousted in these disputes by virtue of Section 11 of the ISRWD Act read with Article 262(2)
- Tribunals constituted under the Act are ad hoc, constituted by the Central Government on the request of any state
- Tribunal awards are published in the Official Gazette and are final and binding
● Tracked since April 24, 2026 · last seen August 13, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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