Apex court dismisses plea against Indus treaty

new delhi — The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea challenging the validity of the Indus water treaty between India and Pakistan, observing that the treaty has proved to be good for both neighbours. “This treaty is of 1960 and this treaty has held good for more than half a century,” a bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar said while dismissing the PIL filed by lawyer M L Sharma in his personal capacity.

The bench, also comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul, however, made it clear that the order dismissing the PIL “does not put any impairment on anybody”.

The clarification came when Sharma said that the dismissal of the PIL should not put any restriction in the way of the government if it wants to review the India-Pakistan water pact.

During the brief hearing, it was argued that the Indus water pact was not a treaty at all as the same was not signed in the name of the president of India.

“It was a tripartite agreement between three leaders and void ab initio (illegal at the outset) and hence cannot be acted upon,” the lawyer said.

The court said that it has perused the entire petition and does not wish to agree with it.

The Indus water agreement was executed on September 19, 1960 between India, Pakistan and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank). Besides Nehru, the then Pakistan President Mohammad Ayub Khan and WA B Iliff for the World Bank were its signatories. — PTI