The Supreme Court today refrained from making any appeal to the Prime Minister for his intervention to solve the Mullaperiyar dam row following objections raised by Tamil Nadu.
A five-judge Constitution Bench did not make the appeal as sought by Kerala after Tamil Nadu objected to it on the ground that the apex court-appointed empowered committee’s report was awaited.
Senior counsel Mr Raju Ramachandran, appearing for Tamil Nadu, contended that any such appeal to the Prime Minister “could be considered at a later stage but it was too premature now.”
The apex court, however, recorded an undertaking in the form of an affidavit from Kerala that it will take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Mullaperiyar dam, other installations and properties of Tamil Nadu in the State from any form of vandalism.
Centre’s senior counsel Mr Ashok Bhan also assured the apex court that central forces including the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) can be deployed at the dam site provided Kerala granted permission or if there was any order from the Bench to the effect.
Centre took the stand that since “police and public order” are the State’s subject under list 2 of the VII scheduled to the Constitution, central forces can be deployed only if requested by the State Government concerned.
Following the assurances from the Kerala Government, the apex court found no reason to interfere with the application moved by Tamil Nadu for deployment of CISF at the dam side.