📜 Article 262 of the Indian Constitution
Title: Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys
Part XI – Relations Between the Union and the States
Chapter II – Administrative Relations
🔍 Text Summary of Article 262:
Article 262 gives Parliament the power to make laws for the resolution of disputes between States regarding inter-State river waters. It also allows Parliament to bar courts, including the Supreme Court, from interfering in such disputes.
🧠 Clauses of Article 262:
| 🔢 Clause | 📘 Provision |
|---|---|
| (1) | Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint relating to the use, distribution, or control of waters of any inter-State river or river valley. |
| (2) | Parliament may by law exclude the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and other courts over such disputes. |
⚖️ Key Law Made Under Article 262:
| 🏛️ Law | 📅 Year | 📘 Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Inter-State Water Disputes Act | 1956 | Provides a mechanism (Tribunal) for resolving water disputes between States |
🧪 Examples of Inter-State River Disputes:
| 🏞️ River | ⚔️ States Involved | 🚨 Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Cauvery | Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry | Water sharing |
| Krishna | Maharashtra vs Karnataka vs Andhra Pradesh | Allocation of water |
| Ravi-Beas | Punjab vs Haryana vs Rajasthan | River water distribution |
🔁 Related Concepts:
| 📘 Related Article / Act | 📌 Connection |
|---|---|
| Article 131 | Original jurisdiction of SC in Centre–State disputes (but barred in water disputes if Article 262 invoked) |
| Entry 56, List I | Union can regulate inter-State rivers |
| Entry 17, List II | States can manage water within their boundaries (subject to 262) |
🧠 In Simple Words:
Article 262 lets Parliament create special laws to settle disputes over rivers shared by multiple States, and even lets it stop courts from interfering — to avoid political and legal deadlocks.
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