State Of Himachal Pradesh vs Union Of India &Ors

State of Himachal Pradesh ...... Plaintiff

Versus

Union of India & Ors. ...... Respondents

J U D G M E N T

A. K. PATNAIK, J.

This dispute between the State of Himachal Pradesh

(Plaintiff), on the one hand, and the Union of India

(defendant No.1), State of Punjab (defendant No.2), State of

Haryana (defendant No.3), State of Rajasthan (defendant

No.4) and Union Territory of Chandigarh (defendant No.5),

on the other hand, under Article 131 of the Constitution of

India relates to the power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects.

2 The Case of the Plaintiff (State of Himachal Pradesh) in

the plaint

2. The Bhakra dam across the river Satluj was proposed

in the year 1944 in the Bilaspur State. The construction of

Bhakra dam was to result in submergence of a large

territory of the Bilaspur State but would benefit the Province

of Punjab. Hence, the Raja of Bilaspur agreed to the

proposal for construction of the Bhakra dam only on certain

terms and conditions detailed in a draft agreement which

was to be executed on behalf of the Raja of Bilaspur and the

Province of Punjab. These terms and conditions included

payment of royalties for generation of power from the water

of the reservoir of the Bhakra dam. The formal agreement

between the Raja of Bilaspur and the province of Punjab,

however, could not be executed as the Bilaspur State ceded

to the Dominion of India in 1948. When the Constitution of

India was adopted in the year 1950, Bilaspur and Himachal

Pradesh were specified as Part-C States in the First

Schedule to the Constitution. In 1954, Bilaspur and

Himachal Pradesh were united to form a new State of

Himachal Pradesh under the Himachal Pradesh and

3

Bilaspur (New States) Act, 1954. The new State of Himachal

Pradesh, however, continued to be a Part-C State until it

became a Union Territory by the Constitution (7th

Amendment) Act, 1956. In 1966, Parliament enacted the

Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 which bifurcated the

erstwhile State of Punjab to two States, Punjab and

Haryana, and transferred some of the territories of the

erstwhile State of Punjab to the Union Territory of Himachal

Pradesh. With effect from 25.01.1971, this Union Territory

of Himachal Pradesh became a full fledged State by the

State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970. The new State of

Himachal Pradesh thus constitutes (i) the erstwhile Part-C

State of Bilaspur; (ii) the erstwhile Part-C State of Himachal

Pradesh and (iii) the transferred territories of State of

Punjab.

3. The construction of Bhakra dam has brought about lot

of benefits to the country and in particular the defendants

Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5, but it has resulted in submergence of

27869 (twenty seven thousand eight hundred and sixty

nine) acres of land in the erstwhile Bilaspur State out of the

total 41600 (forty one thousand six hundred) acres. 3/4th of

4

the reservoir of the Bhakra Dam is located in the erstwhile

Part-C State of Bilaspur, now part of the State of Himachal

Pradesh. Such submergence and reservoir of water over

large areas of land in the State of Himachal Pradesh have

meant loss of cultivated and uncultivated land to a total

extent of 103425 acres, trees and forests, towns,

Government buildings, community buildings, wells, springs

and paths, gardens, parks, road, bridges, telegraph lines,

ferries and these in their turn have resulted in

unemployment, loss of agricultural and trading activity, loss

of revenue, etc. These losses must be compensated by the

defendants Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5.

4. The river Beas originates in District Kullu of Himachal

Pradesh and the Beas Project is a multi-purpose scheme

comprising two units: Unit-I and Unit-II. Unit-I was

commenced in 1960's when Himachal Pradesh was a Union

Territory and was being administered by the Government of

India and this project involved diversion of water from river

Beas at Pandoh in District Mandi of Himachal Pradesh to

river Satluj at Dehar. As a result of the diversion of water

from river Beas at Pandoh, a reservoir comprising an area of

5

323 (three hundred & twenty three) acres and a storage

capacity of 33240 (thirty three thousand two hundred and

forty) acre feet have been created. Unit-II of the project

involved the construction of Pong Dam across river Beas at

Pong and the construction of the Pong Dam has caused

submergence of more than 65050 (sixty five thousand &

fifty) acres of land in Kangra District including prime and

fertile agricultural land. Consequently, a large number of

families have been uprooted from their homes and fertile

agricultural land which they were cultivating and these

families need to be rehabilitated. Although Units-I and II of

Beas Project are located in the State of Himachal Pradesh,

benefits of the two units have accrued to defendants Nos. 2,

3, 4 and 5.

5. The plaintiff is therefore entitled to its due share of

power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects.

Under the scheme for apportionment of assets and liabilities

between the successor States in the Punjab Reorganisation

Act, 1966 the assets and liabilities are to be transferred to

the successor States in proportion to the population ratio

distributed between the successor States/Union Territories.

6 As 7.19% of the total population of the composite State of

Punjab was transferred along with the territories transferred

to the plaintiff under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966,

the plaintiff was entitled to 7.19% of the total power

generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. This

was also the recommendation of Shri K.S. Subrahmanyam,

former Chairman of the Central Electrical Authority in his

report dated 29.06.1979. Moreover, the Union of India has

agreed in principle that the "mother State" which houses a

hydro-electric power project by bearing the reservoir of

water required for generation of hydro-electric power shall

be entitled to at least 12% of total power generated from

such project free of cost. Since plaintiff is the mother State

in which the reservoirs of the two hydro-electric power

projects, Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects were located,

plaintiff was entitled to supply of 12% of the total power

generated in the two projects free of cost.

6. The legal right of the plaintiff to its share of power

generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects has been

acknowledged by Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation

Act, 1966 titled "Rights and Liabilities in regard to Bhakra-

7 Nangal and Beas Projects". Sub-section 1 of Section 78

states that notwithstanding anything contained in the

Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 but subject to Sections 79

and 80 thereof, all rights and liabilities of the existing State

of Punjab in relation to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects

shall on the appointed day (01.11.1966) be the rights and

liabilities of the successor States in such proportion as may

be fixed and subject to such adjustments as may be made

by agreement entered into by the successor States after

consultation with the Central Government or, if no such

agreement is entered into within two years of the appointed

day, as the Central Government may by order determine

having regard to the purposes of the project. Accordingly,

the plaintiff filed its claims with respect to the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects by letter dated 22.10.1969 before

the Central Government and made several subsequent

representations thereafter to the Central Government from

time to time but the Central Government for one reason or

the other did not take steps to determine finally the rights of

the plaintiff in respect of the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects.

8 7. In the absence of the any such final determination by

the Central Government, the power generated in the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects presently is being shared

by an ad hoc arrangement. After deducting the power

consumed for auxiliary purposes and the transmission

losses, the balance of the power generated in the two

projects is presently apportioned on ad hoc basis is given as

under:

Bhakra-Nangal Beas

Name of the Unit I (Dehar) Unit II (Pong)

State/U.T

Rajasthan 15.22% 20% 58.50%

The remaining 84.78% 80% 41.50%

is shared as under:

Punjab 54.50% 60% 60%

Haryana 39.50% 40% 40%

H.P. 2.5% 15 MW Nil

U.T. 3.5% Nil Nil

Chandigarh

8. The cause of action for filing the suit arose when the

Central Government ultimately failed to determine the

lawful claim of the plaintiff and intimated its decision in this

regard by letter dated 11.04.1994 and when a joint meeting

of all the parties under the aegis of the Principal Secretary

of the Prime Minister held on 30.08.1995 failed to arrive at

any agreement with tangible results. For failure on the part

9

of the Central Government to determine the share of the

plaintiff in the power generated in the two projects, the

plaintiff has claimed compensation from the Central

Government also.

9. The plaintiff has accordingly claimed the following

reliefs:

(a) A decree declaring that the plaintiff State

is entitled to a share of 12% of the net power

generated (total power available after

deduction of auxiliary consumption and

transmission losses) in Bhakra-Nangal and

Beas Projects free of cost from the date of

commissioning of the projects and further a

decree declaring that the defendants are

jointly and severally liable to compensate and

reimburse the money value of the power to

the plaintiff State as per statements II and IV

annexed to the plaint;

(b) A decree declaring that the plaintiff State

is entitled to 7.19% of the power generated in

the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects from

the appointed day (01.11.1966) or from the

date of commissioning of the projects,

whichever is later, out of the share of the

then composite State of Punjab on account of

the transfer of population to the plaintiff

State under the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966 and a further decree declaring that the

defendants are jointly and severally liable to

compensate or reimburse the plaintiff State

for the difference between 7.19% of its share

out of the share of the then composite State

of Punjab and the power received by the

plaintiff State under the ad hoc and interim

10

arrangement from the two projects with effect

from the appointed day or the commissioning

of the projects, whichever is later as per

statements I and III annexed to the plaint;

(c) A decree for a sum of Rs.2199.77 (two

thousand one hundred ninety nine decimal

seven) crores in favour of the plaintiff and

against the defendants jointly and severally

as compensation/reimbursement for their

failure of supply to the plaintiff 12% and

7.19% share of the power generated in the

two projects, being the total of the statements

I and IV;

(d) A decree for interest, pendente lite and

future at the prevailing bank rates till the

realization of amount in full;

(e) Costs of the suit;

(f) Other further reliefs as may be deemed fit

and proper in the circumstances of the case.

Written Statement of Defendant No.1 (Union of India)

10. The Bhakra-Nangal Project was completed in 1963 and

the Beas Project was completed in 1977 and the suit filed by

the plaintiff in 1996 claiming damages from defendant No.1

was hopelessly barred by limitation.

11. By an agreement executed on 13.01.1959, the

composite State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan

agreed for the construction of the Bhakra dam across the

river Satluj as well as other ancillary works and the object of

11

this Bhakra-Nangal Project was to generate hydro-electric

power and to improve irrigation facilities for their respective

States and also agreed to fund and derive benefits from the

Bhakra-Nangal Project in the ratio of 84.78% and 15.22%

respectively. Accordingly, the share of the power generated

in the Bhakra-Nangal Project of the State of Rajasthan was

15.22% and the share of the power of composite State of

Punjab was 84.78%. After the reorganisation of Punjab in

1966, the representatives of the successor States/Union

Territories, namely Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and

Himachal Pradesh agreed at a meeting held on 17.04.1967

in presence of the Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation and

Power, Government of India that the share of power of the

four successor States/Union Territories out of the share of

power of the composite State of Punjab from the two

projects would be as follows:

Punjab - 54.5%

Haryana - 39.5%

Chandigarh - 3.5%

Himachal Pradesh - 2.5%

This agreement was incorporated in the minutes of the

meeting held on 17.04.1967 which were circulated by the

12

letter dated 27.04.1967 of the defendant No.1 to all

concerned. This agreement between the successor

States/Union Territories dated 17.04.1967 constitutes a

statutory agreement in terms of Section 78(1) of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 and will hold the field unless

replaced by a consensual agreement between the successor

States/Union Territories.

12. The Beas Project was also funded by the composite

State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan as would be

clear from the notification dated 17.06.1970 of the Ministry

of Irrigation and Power, Government of India and the

benefits of power from the Beas Project were allocated

between the composite State of Punjab and State of

Rajasthan in proportion to the ratio of the costs borne by

the two States. After the reorganisation of composite State

of Punjab, the Government of India, Ministry of Energy,

Department of Power by D.O. Letter dated 30.03.1978 has

allowed supply of 15MW power to Himachal Pradesh from

the Dehar Power Plant of the Beas Project on ad hoc basis.

13 13. The plaintiff lodged its claim to 7.19% share of the

total power generated from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects in its letter dated 22.10.1969 but by letter dated

22.03.1972, Ministry of Irrigation and Power, Government of

India informed the plaintiff that the allocation of power

made at the meeting on 17.04.1967 of the representatives of

the successor States/Union Territories of the composite

State of Punjab will not be modified. The Subrahmanyam

Report recommending 7.19% of the total share of power

generated from Beas Project for the plaintiff has not been

accepted by the defendant No.1 and was not binding on

defendant No.1 and the other defendants.

14. The formula of 12% free power to the mother State

bearing hydro-electric power project is applicable only in

respect of Central Sector Hydro Projects and is not

applicable to the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects and this

has been clarified in the D.O. Letter dated 11.04.1994 of the

Ministry of Power, Government of India to the Chief Minister

of the plaintiff State and has also been reiterated in the D.O.

Letter dated 28.06.1995 of the Ministry.

14 15. Under Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966, the claims of the successor States/Union Territories

to the power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects can be settled either by agreement between the

successor States/Union Territories or by the decision of the

Central Government and not by the court. The dispute

raised by the plaintiff regarding distribution of electricity

from hydro projects between the plaintiff and defendants

No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is an extremely sensitive issue and

experience of controversy surrounding the Cauvery dispute

between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Pondicherry and Kerala

clearly demonstrates that there are grave risks which may

give rise to agitation and eventual politicization with regard

to river water system, irrigation and electricity and this is an

important aspect which has to be borne in the background

while dealing with the present dispute. The suit is not

maintainable under Article 131 of the Constitution.

Written statement by Defendant No. 2 (State of Punjab)

16. The suit as filed by the plaintiff is not maintainable

under Article 131 of the Constitution and the plaintiff has

no cause of action to file the suit. In terms of Section 78(1) 15

of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the representatives

of the successor States/Union Territories of the composite

State of Punjab have at a meeting held on 17.04.1967

agreed to share the power of the composite State of Punjab

from the two projects at the following percentages:

Punjab - 54.5%

Haryana - 39.5%

Chandigarh - 3.5%

Himachal Pradesh - 2.5%

This agreement dated 17.04.1967 has been entered into

within the two years period specified in Section 78(1) of the

Act and, therefore, the Central Government has no power to

intervene in the matter.

17. The financial liabilities of Bhakra and Beas

Projects are being shared by the States of Punjab

and Haryana. The Central Government had taken

a decision under Section 54(3) of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 that all liabilities towards

the loans incurred prior to the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 on the two projects are to

be borne by the States of Punjab and Haryana.

16 The decision of the Central Government in this

regard has been conveyed to the concerned State

Governments in the letter dated 12.03.1967 of the

Government of India, Ministry of Finance,

Department of Economic Affairs, New Delhi.

18. On 27.06.1961, the Lt. Governor, Himachal

Pradesh, had written to the Chief Minister of

Punjab that Himachal Pradesh should be given

guaranteed preference in the allotment of power

generated from the Power House to be set up at

Salappar (Dehar) - Unit No.1 of Beas Project. After

finding out the anticipated firm demand of power

from the Salappar (Dehar) Power House, the State

of Punjab in its communication dated 10.08.1962

agreed to allot 15 M.W. power to Himachal Pradesh

within one year of the commissioning of the two

units of these projects.

19. The decision of the Union Cabinet taken on

12.02.1985 that 12% of power generated at Bhakra

and Beas Projects will be supplied to the "Home

State" is applicable to only Central Sector Hydro-

17 Electric Power Projects financed by the State

Government and is not applicable to Bhakra and

Beas Projects, which are not Central Projects

financed by the Central Government. Moreover,

the Central Government's decision dated

12.02.1985 does not apply to the Central Sector

Hydro-Electric Power Projects in respect of which

sanction for investment had been granted prior to

12.02.1985 and sanction for investment in Bhakra

and Beas Projects was much prior to 12.02.1985.

20. Population alone cannot be considered as the

basis for sharing of power because the connected

supply to the consumers in the successors

States/Union Territories of the composite State of

Punjab has to be maintained. Any increase,

therefore, in the quota of power to Himachal

Pradesh at the cost of the State of Punjab would

mean further hardship to the consumers in the

State of Punjab, which is already facing a serious

power crisis.

18 21. Punjab being a down-stream riparian State of the

rivers Satluj and Beas is entitled to utilize the

water flowing from the two rivers and the plaintiff

was free to utilize the up-stream water in the two

rivers in the manner it liked. But since it did not

have the resources to do so, the States of Punjab,

Haryana and Rajasthan have invested in the

construction of the two projects. By the two

projects, Himachal Pradesh has not lost anything

in the process, except that the land located in the

Himachal Pradesh has been acquired for the

projects and more than adequate compensation

has been paid to the owners of the land and

reasonable arrangements have also been made for

their resettlement. Moreover, the creation of big

reservoir has provided Himachal Pradesh the

facilities of fish, farming and increase in tourism

potential.

Written statement by Defendant No. 3 (State of Haryana)

22. The suit is barred because of the provisions of

Section 78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, under

19

which the right to receive and utilize power from the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects can only be determined

by the Central Government in case the successor

States/Union Territories of the composite State of Punjab

are unable to reach an agreement.

23. An agreement has in fact been arrived at by the

successor States/Union Territories of the composite State of

Punjab on 17.04.1967 at a meeting taken by the Secretary,

Ministry of Irrigation and Power, Government of India, to

share the power generated by the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects at the following percentages and of the share of

power of the composite Punjab State:

Punjab - 54.5%

Haryana - 39.5%

Chandigarh - 3.5%

Himachal Pradesh - 2.5%

Accordingly, only 2.5% of the total power generated in the

two projects out of the share of the composite State of

Punjab, has been made available to the successor State of

Himachal Pradesh right from May, 1967. Since the

agreement dated 17.04.1967 has been arrived at within two

20

years of the appointed date mentioned in the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966, the Central Government ceased to

have any power under Section 78 of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 to determine the dispute.

24. The concept of 12% free power from Hydro stations to

the "Mother State" or "Home State" is applicable to only

Central Sector Projects commissioned after 07.09.1990

subject to the condition mentioned in the letter dated

01.11.1990 of Department of Power, Government of India

and is not applicable to jointly owned State Sector Projects

such as Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects, commissioned

much earlier than 07.09.1990.

25. The Bhakra Dam was conceived with the consent of

the Raja of Bilaspur and all obligations towards the

erstwhile State of Bilaspur were fulfilled by the project

authorities. No legal agreement between the Raja of

Bilaspur and the Province of Punjab in respect of Bhakra-

Nangal Project for royalty/free power exists.

26. There is no provision in the Punjab Reorganisation

Act, 1966 providing for sharing of power generated in the

21

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects on the basis of the

transferred population ratio and therefore the claim of the

plaintiff to 7.19% of the total power generated in the two

projects is not legally tenable. The Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects were constructed pursuant to an agreement

between the State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan and

the State of Himachal Pradesh which came to existence

much later was entitled to power as per the provisions

incorporated in the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966.

27. The Department of Power, Government of India, in its

D.O. Letter dated 30.03.1978 to the Chairman, B.B.M.B.

conveyed the decision of Government of India that the

plaintiff be supplied 15 M.W. of power generated from Beas

Power Plant and this supply was to be on ad hoc basis, at

Bus Bar rates, pending final decision about its share of

power which was to be examined separately. Subsequently,

by letter dated 16.08.1983 of the Department of Power,

Government of India, the Chairman, B.B.M.B. has been

informed that the quantum of benefits from Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects presently allocated to Himachal Pradesh

will remain unaltered until a final decision is taken.

22 Written statement of the Defendant No.4 (State of

Rajasthan)

28. Under an agreement made on 15.08.1948 between the

then Governor General of India and the Raja of Bilaspur, the

administration of Bilaspur State was transferred to the

Dominion Government of India and in lieu thereof the Raja

of Bilaspur received a compensation of Rs.70,000/-

annually as privy purse free of tax. By a notification dated

20.07.1949 the Governor General of India ordered that on

and from 01.08.1949 the territory of State of Bilaspur,

which had merged in the Dominion of India, would be

administered as if it was Chief Commissioner's Province.

On the commencement of the Constitution of India, the

territory of Chief Commissioner's Province became a Part-C

State and continued to be administered through the Chief

Commissioner by the Government of India. Hence, it is

absolutely irrelevant that about 3/4th of the total area of the

reservoir of Bhakra Dam fell within the State of Bilaspur.

With the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Project, overall

development took place in the area and as a result new

infrastructural facilities were built in the project area such

as new roads, new bridges, new township, new schools and

23

colleges, fisheries, tourism, etc. and all these benefited the

local populace of the then Part-C State of Bilaspur. It is,

therefore, not correct that the then Part-C State of Bilaspur,

which now formed as a part of Plaintiff-State, has only

suffered on account of the submergence caused by the

construction of the Bhakra Dam.

29. There was no agreement as such between the then

State of Punjab and the Raja of Bilaspur with regard to the

construction of the Dam and unless the draft agreement

was finally approved, settled and signed by the parties, no

rights could be claimed by the State of Bilaspur under the

alleged draft agreement.

30. During the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Project,

the predecessor State or Union Territory of the Plaintiff

never raised the grievances now put forth by the Plaintiff

and the grievances now put forth in the plaint are only an

after-thought and are imaginary. In fact, all persons

affected by the construction of the Bhakra-Nangal Project

have been compensated, a new township of Bilaspur has

been constructed, proper compensation has been paid for

acquisition of land and the beneficiary States have even

24

provided for the rehabilitation of the oustees of the Bhakra-

Nangal Project in Sirsa and Hissar Districts and

rehabilitation of oustees of the Beas Project in Indira

Gandhi Pariyojana.

31. The share of the State of Rajasthan in the power

generated in the Bhakra-Nangal Project is 15.22% and Unit-

I of Beas Project is 20% and Unit-II of Beas Project is

58.50% and these allocations of share are not interim or ad

hoc but are final. The one-man Committee headed by Shri

K. S. Subrahmanyam was not constituted after consultation

with the State of Rajasthan and hence the recommendation

of this Committee has no relevance so far as the State of

Rajasthan is concerned. In any case, the report of Shri K.

S. Subrahmanyam is not a legally admissible document.

The claim of 12% of the total power generated in Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects on the basis of the Plaintiff being

the "Mother State" is baseless. Both the projects, Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects, are the State Projects conceived

planned, constructed, developed and operated and are being

maintained by the participating States, namely the State of

Rajasthan and the composite State of Punjab, and these two

25

States as partners of the projects have been sharing power

from the two projects on the basis of agreements executed

between them.

32. The dispute raised in the suit relates to the share of

water and generation of power from the use of water in

inter-state rivers and this Court has no jurisdiction under

Article 131 of the Constitution to decide the dispute.

33. This Court has no jurisdiction over the dispute which

arises out of an agreement entered into or executed before

the commencement of the Constitution by a Ruler of an

Indian State by virtue of the bar under Article 363 of the

Constitution.

Written statement of the Defendant No.5 (Union

Territory of Chandigarh)

34. The suit is hopelessly barred by time inasmuch as the

Bhakra-Nangal Project was completed in 1963 and the Beas

Project was completed in 1977 and the suit has been filed in

the year 1996.

35. Under Section 78(1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966, the rights and liabilities of the successor

States/Union Territories of the composite State of Punjab in

26

relation to the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects are to be

fixed by an agreement entered into by the successor

States/Union Territories after consultation with the Central

Government or, if no such agreement is entered into within

two years of the appointed day, by an order of the Central

Government having regard to the purposes of the project.

Hence this suit filed by the plaintiff claiming rights in the

power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects is

not maintainable under the provisions of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966.

36. An agreement has in fact been arrived at in relation

to Bhakra-Nangal Project by the representatives of the

successor States/Union Territories of the composite State of

Punjab at a meeting held on 17.04.1967 under the

Chairmanship of the Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation and

Power, Government of India, and as per this agreement the

share of power of Himachal Pradesh from the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects is 2.5% of the total share of the

composite State of Punjab and this agreement is binding on

all parties including the plaintiff and the plaintiff is

27

estopped from seeking any relief including damages dehors

the agreement.

37. In relation to the Beas Project, the Central Government

has also allowed a supply of 15 MW power to Himachal

Pradesh from Dehar Power Plant on ad hoc basis by letter

dated 30.03.1978 of the Ministry of Energy, Department of

Power, Government of India and this arrangement has been

ratified by the Bhakra Beas Management Board at its 76th

meeting held on 28.09.1978.

38. If there is no agreement between the successor

States/Union Territories of the composite State of Punjab

and if there is no final order of the Central Government

determining the rights and liabilities of the successor

States/Union Territories of the composite State of Punjab,

the only legal proceeding which can be initiated is for

directing the Central Government to pass a statutory order

under Section 78(1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

and there is no scope for any legal proceedings for recovery

of damages towards the share of electricity of the Plaintiff.

Issues:

28 39. After considering the pleadings of the parties, on

08.03.1999 this Court framed a large number of issues.

Thereafter, the plaintiff examined three witnesses, namely,

Shri A.K. Goswami, the Chief Secretary of the State of

Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Y.K. Murthy, Ex-Chief Engineer-

cum-Secretary (MPP & Power) to the Government of

Himachal Pradesh, and Shri Prabodh Saxena, Deputy

Commissioner to the Government of Himachal Pradesh.

The Defendant No.2 examined one witness, namely, Shri

Romesh Chandra Bansal, Consultant of Punjab State

Electricity Board on Inter State Disputes) and Defendant

No.3 examined one witness, namely, Shri Jia Lal Jain, Chief

Accounts Officer in Haryana State Electricity Board. The

parties have also produced a large number of documents,

which have been marked as Exhibits.

40. At the hearing of the suit, the learned counsel for the

parties did not press all the issues framed by this Court on

08.03.1999 and confined their arguments to some of the

issues. These issues are rearranged and renumbered as

follows:

29 "01. Whether the suit is not maintainable

being barred by limitation, delay and

laches? (Defendant Nos. 1 & 2)

02. Whether after the merger of the State of

Bilaspur with the Dominion of India,

plaintiff could still have any cause of action

to file the present suit? (Defendant No. 4)

03. Whether the suit barred by reasons of

Article 363 of the Constitution? (Defendant

No. 4)

04. Whether the suit is not maintainable

under Article 131 of the Constitution?

(Defendant No.4)

05. Whether the suit does not disclose any

cause of action against the Defendant Nos.

3 and 4 and therefore liable to be rejected

under Order XXIII Rule 6(a) of the Supreme

Court Rules, 1966. (Defendant Nos. 3 and

4).

06. Whether the suit is not maintainable by

virtue of the scheme of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 in general and

provisions of Sections 78 to 80 of the said

Act in particular? (Defendant Nos. 1 & 2)

07. Whether in the discussions held on 17th

April, 1967, any agreement was reached

between the party States as regards their

share in power generated (rights to receive

and to utilize the power generated) in the

Bhakra Project? (Defendant Nos. 1, 2 & 3)

08. Whether the Plaintiff-State is entitled to

12% of the net power generated in Bhakra-

Nangal & Beas Projects free of cost from the

date of commissioning of the projects?

(Plaintiff)

30

09. Whether the State of Himachal Pradesh

is entitled to an allocation of 7.19% in

addition to 12% free power as claimed

above, of the total power generated in

Bhakra-Nangal & Beas Projects from the

date of commissioning of the Projects or the

appointed date (01.11.1966)? (Plaintiff)

10. Whether the plaintiff is entitled to a

decree for a sum of Rs.2199.77 crores

against the defendants jointly and severally,

as compensation/reimbursement for their

failure to supply to the plaintiff 12% and

7.19% shares (on account of distress

caused/surrender of rights to generate

power and on account of transfer of

population to the plaintiff State respectively

in the power generated in these projects

upto the date of the filing of the present suit

and such further sums as may be

determined, as entitlement of the plaintiff

for the period subsequent to the filing of the

suit? (Plaintiff)

11. Whether the Plaintiff-State is entitled to

the award of any interest on the amounts

determined as its entitlement? (Plaintiff)"

We may now deal with each of these issues separately.

Issue No.1

41. Mr. Mohan Jain, learned Additional Solicitor General

appearing for Defendant Nos. 1 and 5, submitted that the

Bhakra-Nangal Project was completed in 1963 and the Beas

Project was completed in 1977, whereas the suit has been

filed in the year 1996 and, therefore, the suit is belated and

31

barred by limitation. Mr. C.S. Vaidyanathan, learned senior

counsel appearing for Defendant No.4, cited the decision in

U.P. Jal Nigam & Anr. v. Jaswant Singh & Anr. [(2006) 11

SCC 464] in which this Court has held that a party would

not be entitled to relief if he has not been vigilant in

invoking the protection of his rights and has acquiesced

with the changed situation. He submitted that in the

present case, the Plaintiff-State has acquiesced in the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects and the sharing of power

from the two projects by Plaintiff and the Defendant Nos. 2

and 5 in certain proportions since several decades and has

filed the suit only in the year 1996.

42. We are unable to accept the contention that the suit is

barred by limitation. Article 131 of the Constitution does

not prescribe any period of limitation within which a State

or the Union of India has to file a dispute in this Court. No

other provision of law has been brought to our notice

prescribing the period within which a dispute under Article

131 of the Constitution can be instituted by a State against

any other State or the Union of India. Moreover, as we will

indicate hereinafter in this judgment, there has been no

32

final allocation of share of power from the Bhakra-Nangal

Project and the Beas Project to the Plaintiff-State as yet and

whatever allocations of power from the two projects to the

Plaintiff-State have been made are only adhoc or interim.

Until a final decision was taken with regard to allocation of

power to the Plaintiff-State from the two projects, the claim

of the Plaintiff-State to appropriate allocation of power from

the two projects was live and cannot be held to be stale or

belated. Our answer to Issue No.1, therefore, is that the

suit was not barred by limitation, delay and laches.

Issue No. 2

43. The second Issue is whether after the merger of the

State of Bilaspur with the Dominion of India, the Plaintiff

could still have any cause of action to file the present suit.

A copy of the Bilaspur Merger Agreement dated 15.08.1948

has been produced on behalf of Defendant No.4 and marked

as Ext. D-4/1-A. Article 1 of the Bilaspur Merger

Agreement dated 15.08.1948 reads as follows:

"The Raja of Bilaspur hereby cedes to the

Dominion Government full and exclusive

authority, jurisdiction and powers for and in

relation to the governance of the State and agrees

to transfer the administration of the State to the

33

Dominion Government on twelfth day of October,

1948 (hereinafter referred to as `the said day').

As from the said day the Dominion Government

will be competent to exercise the said powers,

authority and jurisdiction in such manner and

through such agency as it may think fit."

It is thus clear that by the Bilaspur Merger Agreement dated

15.08.1948 the Raja of Bilaspur ceded to the Dominion

Government full and exclusive authority, jurisdiction and

powers for and in relation to the governance of the State

and agreed to transfer the administration of the State to the

Dominion Government on 12.10.1948. Thereafter, the

Government of India, Ministry of Law, issued a notification

dated 20.07.1949 (Ext. D-4/2-A) in exercise of its powers

under Section 290-A of the Government of India Act, 1935

making the States Merger (Chief Commissioners Provinces)

Order, 1949, which came into force from 01.08.1949.

Under this States Merger (Chief Commissioners Provinces)

Order, 1949, Bilaspur was to be administered in all respects

as if it was a Chief Commissioner's Province. Under the

Constitution of India also initially Bilaspur continued to be

administered as the Chief Commissioner's Province and was

included in the First Schedule of the Constitution as a Part-

34 C State. Under Article 294 (b) all rights, liabilities and

obligations of the Government of the Dominion of India,

whether arising out of any contract or otherwise, became

the rights, liabilities and obligations of the Government of

India. These provisions of the Bilaspur Merger Agreement

dated 15.08.1948 (Ext.D-4/1-A), the States Merger (Chief

Commissioners Provinces) Order, 1949, the First Schedule

of the Constitution and Article 294 (b) of the Constitution

make it clear that Bilaspur became the part of the

Dominion of India and thereafter was administered as a

Chief Commissioner's Province by the Government of India

and all rights of the Raja of Bilaspur vested in the

Government of India.

44. We, therefore, hold that the Plaintiff will not have any

cause of action to make any claim on the basis of any right

of Raja of Bilaspur prior to the merger of Bilaspur State with

the Dominion of India. The pleadings in the plaint and the

reliefs claimed therein, however, show that the Plaintiff's

case is not founded only on the rights of Raja of Bilaspur

prior to its merger with the Dominion of India. The

Plaintiff's claim to the share of power generated in the

35

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects is also based on Section

78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and the rights of

the State of Himachal Pradesh under the Constitution. The

claim of the Plaintiff-State to share of power from the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects in the suit insofar as it is

based on provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966

and the provisions of the Constitution are not affected by

the merger of the State of Bilaspur with the Dominion of

India. Issue No. 2 is answered accordingly.

Issue No. 3 45. Issue No. 3 relates to the bar of the suit under Article

363 of the Constitution. Mr. Vaidyanathan, learned counsel

for the Defendant No.4 submitted that the suit was barred

under the proviso to Article 131 of the Constitution and

Article 363 of the Constitution. In support of this

contention, he relied on State of Seraikella and Others v.

Union of India and Another [AIR 1951 SC 253]. Mr.

Nageshwar Rao, learned counsel for Defendant No.3 also

raised this contention and relied on State of Orissa v. State

of A.P. [(2006) 9 SCC 591].

36 46. Articles 131 and 363 of the Constitution are quoted

hereinbelow:

"131. Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme

Court - Subject to the provisions of this

Constitution, the Supreme Court shall, to the

exclusion of any other court, have original

jurisdiction in any dispute--

(a) between the Government of India and one or

more States; or

(b) between the Government of India and any

State or States on one side and one or more other

States on the other; or

(c) between two or more States,

if and in so far as the dispute involves any

question (whether of law or fact) on which the

existence or extent of a legal right depends:

[Provided that the said jurisdiction shall not

extend to a dispute arising out of any treaty,

agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or

other similar instrument which, having been

entered into or executed before the

commencement of this Constitution, continues in

operation after such commencement, or which

provides that the said jurisdiction shall not

extend to such a dispute.]

363. Bar to interference by courts in

disputes arising out of certain treaties,

agreements, etc. -

(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution

but subject to the provisions of article 143,

neither the Supreme Court nor any other court

shall have jurisdiction in any dispute arising out

of any provision of a treaty, agreement, covenant,

engagement, sanad or other similar instrument

37

which was entered into or executed before the

commencement of this Constitution by any Ruler

of an Indian State and to which the Government

of the Dominion of India or any of its predecessor

Governments was a party and which has or has

been continued in operation after such

commencement, or in any dispute in respect of

any right accruing under or any liability or

obligation arising out of any of the provisions of

this Constitution relating to any such treaty,

agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or

other similar instrument.

(2) In this article--

(a) "Indian State" means any territory recognized

before the commencement of this Constitution by

His Majesty or the Government of the Dominion

of India as being such a State; and

(b) "Ruler" includes the Prince, Chief or other

person recognised before such commencement by

His Majesty or the Government of the Dominion

of India as the Ruler of any Indian State."

47. The language of the proviso to Article 131 of the

Constitution makes it clear that the jurisdiction of this

Court under Article 131 shall not extend to a dispute arising

out of any treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad

or other similar instrument which, having been entered into

or executed before the commencement of the Constitution,

continues in operation after such commencement, or which

provides that the said jurisdiction shall not extend to such a

38

dispute. Hence, there is a clear bar for this Court to

exercise jurisdiction under Article 131 of the Constitution to

decide a dispute arising out of any treaty, agreement,

covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument

which, having been entered into or executed before the

commencement of the Constitution, continues in operation

after such commencement. Clause (1) of Article 363 of the

Constitution quoted above also states that notwithstanding

anything in the Constitution, the Supreme Court shall have

no jurisdiction in any dispute arising out of any provision of

a treaty, agreement, covenant, engagement, sanad or other

similar instrument which were entered into or executed

before the commencement of the Constitution by any Ruler

of an Indian State or to which the Government of the

Dominion of India or any of its predecessor Governments

was a party and which has or has been continued in

operation after such commencement, or in any dispute in

respect of any right accruing under or any liability or

obligation arising out of any of the provisions of this

Constitution relating to any such treaty, agreement,

covenant, engagement, sanad or other similar instrument.

39 These being the clear constitutional provisions, obviously

this Court will have no jurisdiction under Article 131 of the

Constitution to decide any dispute arising out of any

agreement or covenant between the Raja of Bilaspur and the

Government of the Dominion of India. The only agreement

proved to have been executed by the Raja of Bilaspur and

the Government of the Dominion of India before the

commencement of the Constitution is the Bilaspur Merger

Agreement (Ext. D-4/1A) and on a close examination of the

provisions of the Bilaspur Merger Agreement dated

15.08.1948, we find that there are no provisions therein

which have any relevance to the claim of the Plaintiff to the

share of the Plaintiff to the power generated in the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects. The draft agreement dated

07.07.1948, however, has provisions in clause 13 for

allocation of power to the Bilaspur State, but this draft

agreement is not proved to have been executed on behalf of

the parties thereto and cannot constitute a basis for

allocation of power to the Plaintiff-State. However, we have

already held that the claim of the Plaintiff-State is based

also on the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and the

40

provisions of the Constitution and such claim is not barred

under Article 363 of the Constitution. This issue is

answered accordingly.

Issue No. 4 48. Issue No. 4 has been raised by the Defendant No.4

(State of Rajasthan) and its case is that the suit is actually a

dispute with regard to use of water in inter state rivers,

namely, Satluj and Beas, and is barred under Article 262 (2)

of the Constitution. Mr. Vaidyanathan, learned counsel

appearing for the Defendant No.4, submitted that the case

of the Plaintiff is that on account of the use of water of the

two inter state rivers for generation of hydro-electric power

in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects, the Plaintiff has

lost its entitlement to beneficial use of the water. He cited

decisions of this Court in Re: Cauvery Water Disputes

Tribunal [1993 Supp (1) SCC 96(II), State of Karnataka v.

State of A.P. and Others [(2000) 9 SCC 572], State of

Haryana v. State of Punjab and Another [(2002) 2 SCC 507]

and State of Orissa v. Government of India and Another

[(2009) 5 SCC 492] in support of his submissions that a suit

which is really a dispute relating to the use of water of an

41

inter-state river is barred under clause (2) of Article 262 of

the Constitution read with Section 11 of the Inter-State

Water Disputes Act, 1956.

49. Clause (2) of Article 262 of the Constitution provides

that notwithstanding anything in the Constitution,

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 relating to waters

of inter state rivers or river valleys. Parliament has in fact

made the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 and has also

provided in Section 11 of this Act that neither the Supreme

Court nor any other court shall have jurisdiction or exercise

jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be

referred to a Tribunal under the Act. In State of Karnataka

v. State of A.P. and Others (supra) a Constitution Bench of

this Court held in Para 24 at pages 604, 605 and 606 that

when a contention is raised that a suit filed under Article

131 of the Constitution is barred under Article 262(2) of the

Constitution read with Section 11 of the Inter-State Water

Disputes Act, 1956, what is necessary to be found out is

whether the assertions made in the plaint and the relief

42

sought for, by any stretch of imagination, can be held to be

a water dispute so as to oust the jurisdiction of this Court

under Article 131 of the Constitution and on examining the

assertions made in the plaint and the relief sought for by

the Plaintiff-State, the Constitution Bench took the view

that the suit in that case could not be held to be barred

under Article 262 of the Constitution read with Section 11

of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956. This decision in

State of Karnataka v. State of Andhra Pradesh was followed

by this Court in State of Haryana v. State of Punjab and

Another (supra) and it was held that the question of

maintainability of the suit has to be decided upon the

assertions made by the Plaintiffs and the relief sought for,

and taking the totality of the same and not by spinning up

one paragraph of the plaint and then deciding the matter.

Applying this test to the present case, we find on a reading

of the assertions made in the entire plaint as well as the

reliefs claimed therein by the Plaintiff that the dispute does

not relate to a dispute in relation to inter state river water or

the use thereof, and actually relates to sharing of power

generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and the Beas Projects and

43

such a dispute was not barred under clause (2) of Article

262 of the Constitution read with Section 11 of the Inter-

State Water Disputes Act, 1956.

Issue No. 5 50. Mr. Nageshwar Rao, learned counsel for Defendant

No.3 and Mr. Vaidyanathan, learned counsel for Defendant

No.4 submitted that Article 131 of the Constitution is clear

that this Court will have the original jurisdiction in a

dispute between the parties mentioned therein "if and

insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law

or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right

depends". They argued that unless the Plaintiff-State

establishes its legal right to the share of power from the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects, the suit of the Plaintiff is

not maintainable under Article 131 of the Constitution.

They submitted that Order XXIII Rule 6(a) of the Supreme

Court Rules, 1966 states that a plaint shall be rejected

where it does not disclose any cause of action and in this

case since the plaint does not disclose a legal right in favour

of the Plaintiff-State to its share of power from the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects, the plaint is liable to be rejected.

44 In support of this contention, Mr. Rao and Mr.

Vaidyanathan relied on the decision of this Court in State of

Haryana v. State of Punjab and Another [(2004) 12 SCC

673].

51. At this stage, when oral and documentary evidence

have already been led by the parties and arguments have

been made by the learned counsel for the parties and when

we are going to finally decide the suit, it is not necessary for

us to consider whether the plaint discloses a cause of action

and is liable to be rejected under Order XXIII Rule 6(a) of

the Supreme Court Rules, 1966. We have to however

consider whether on the pleadings of the parties and on the

evidence adduced by the parties, the Plaintiff-State has

established a legal right to the utilization of power from the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. After examining the

pleadings of the parties and the evidence adduced on behalf

of the parties, we find that under the Bilaspur Merger

Agreement dated 15.08.1948, the State of Bilaspur merged

with the Dominion of India and was administered as the

Chief Commissioner's Province and was included as a Part-

C State is the First Schedule of the Constitution. In 1954

45

Bilaspur and Himachal Pradesh however, were united to

form a new State of Himachal Pradesh under the Himachal

Pradesh and Bilaspur (New States) Act, 1954. This new

State of Himachal Pradesh continued to be a Part-C State

until it became a Union Territory by the Constitution (7th

Amendment) Act, 1956. It is when Himachal Pradesh was

a Union Territory that the State of Punjab and the State of

Rajasthan entered into an agreement on 13.01.1959 (Ext.D-

1/3) to collaborate in the construction of a Dam across the

river Sutlej at Bhakra and other ancillary works executed

under the Bhakra-Nangal Project for the improvement of

irrigation and generation of Hydro-electric power and as per

the terms and conditions of this agreement, the power

generated in Bhakra-Nangal Project was to be shared

between Punjab and Rajasthan in the ratio of 84.78% and

15.22% respectively. The plaintiff's case in the plaint is that

the construction of the Bhakra Dam across the river Satluj

has resulted in submergence of large areas of Himachal

Pradesh and its rights have been affected by the

construction of the Bhakra Dam. According to Mr. Ganguli,

learned counsel appearing for the Plaintiff, the legal rights of

46

the plaintiff which have been affected by the construction of

the Bhakra-Nangal Project are the (a) natural right to the

beneficial use of the water; (b) rights under the agreement

executed with the Raja of Bilaspur and (c) constitutional

rights of Himachal Pradesh over its water and land under

Entries 17 and 18 of List-II of the Seventh Schedule to the

Constitution; (d) the statutory rights under Section 78 of the

Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and (e) the right to equal

treatment in matter of utilization of power from the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects.

52. We have already held while answering Issue No.2 that

after Bilaspur became part of the Dominion of India, the

Plaintiff cannot make any claim to power on the basis of the

rights of the Raja of Bilaspur prior to the merger of the

Bilaspur State with the Dominion of India. So far as the

rights of a State or Union Territory over its water and land

are concerned, none of the constituent units of the Indian

Union were sovereign and independent entities before the

Constitution and after the commencement of the

Constitution the constituent units have only such rights as

are conferred on them by the provisions of the Constitution.

47 As has been held by this Court in Babulal Parate v. State of

Bombay and another (AIR 1960 SC 51) cited by Mr. Shyam

Diwan, learned counsel for the Defendant No.2:

"None of the constituent units of the Indian

Union was sovereign and independent in the

sense the American colonies or the Swiss

Cantons were before they formed their federal

unions. The Constituent Assembly of India,

deriving its power from the sovereign people,

was unfettered by any previous commitment

in evolving a constitutional pattern suitable

to the genius and requirements of the Indian

people as a whole." (At Page 55 of AIR 1960)

In 1959, as we have noticed, Himachal Pradesh which

included the erstwhile State of Bilaspur was a Union

Territory and not a State. The executive and the legislative

power over water and land in Entries 17 and 18 of List-II of

the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution vested in 1959 in

the Union of India (Defendant No.1). This will be clear from

Article 73(1) of the Constitution, which provides that subject

to the provisions of the Constitution, the executive power of

the Union shall extend to the matters with respect to which

Parliament has power to make laws and from Article 246(4)

of the Constitution which states that Parliament has power

48

to make laws with respect to any matter for any part of the

territory of India not included in a State notwithstanding

that such matter is a matter enumerated in the State List.

In other words, in 1959 when the agreement was made

between the States of Punjab and Rajasthan to construct

the Bhakra Dam across the river Satluj which would have

the effect of submerging large areas within Himachal

Pradesh, it is the Union of India which had the right over

the water and land in Himachal Pradesh and if the Union of

India has, in exercise of its constitutional powers acquiesced

in the construction of the Dam at Bhakra over river Satluj,

the Plaintiff-State can have no cause of action to make a

claim to power from the Bhakra-Nangal Project on the basis

of submergence of large areas of Himachal Pradesh on

account of the construction of the Bhakra Dam.

53. We further find that in 1960-1961 when Himachal

Pradesh was a Union Territory, the State of Punjab and the

State of Rajasthan decided to collaborate and undertake the

execution of Beas Project including all connected works in

Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. The Government

of India, Ministry of Irrigation and Power, also adopted a

49

resolution on 10.02.1961 (Ext.D-1/7) constituting the Beas

Control Board for ensuring efficient, economical and early

execution of the Beas Project (comprising Unit-I - Beas

Satluj Link and Unit-II the Dam at Pong) and there were the

representatives of the States of Punjab, Rajasthan and the

Himachal Pradesh Administration and the Government of

India in the Beas Control Board. Thus, the submergence of

the large areas of Himachal Pradesh because of the

construction of the Beas Project took place due to decisions

to which the Government of India was a party and when

Himachal Pradesh was a Union Territory and the Union of

India had executive and legislative power over water and

land in Himachal Pradesh by virtue of the constitutional

provisions in Article 73(1) and Article 246(4) of the

Constitution. The Plaintiff-State therefore cannot have any

cause of action to make a claim to power from the Beas

Project on the basis of submergence of large areas of

Himachal Pradesh.

54. In our considered opinion, however, the Plaintiff had

the statutory right under Section 78 of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 to the utilization of power and also

50

the constitutional right to equal treatment vis-`-vis the

other successor States of the composite State of Punjab and

the Plaintiff has cause of action in the suit to make a claim

to the utilization of power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects on the basis of such statutory right and

constitutional right and we shall advert to the statutory

right and the constitutional right of the plaintiff when we

deal with the remaining issues. On a perusal of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966, however, we find that the

provisions of this Act deal with the rights of the successor

States of the composite State of Punjab and it is by

reference to the provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966 that the Plaintiff-State has claimed equal rights to

power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. The

Defendant No.4 (State of Rajasthan) was never a part of

composite State of Punjab and its rights and liabilities

including its rights to utilization of power in the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects are not affected by the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966. Hence, on the basis of the

statutory right and the constitutional right of the plaintiff to

utilization of power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

51

Projects from out of the share of composite State of Punjab

prior to the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the Plaintiff-

State has no cause of action to file a suit against the State

of Rajasthan. In other words, since the Plaintiff-State has

no legal right to claim a share of power from the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects from out of the share of power of

the State of Rajasthan, the Plaintiff had no cause of action

to file the suit against the State of Rajasthan (Defendant

No.4), but since the Plaintiff-State has a legal right to

utilization of power out of the total share of power of the

composite State of Punjab from the Bhakra-Nangal and

Beas Projects as a successor State, the Plaintiff has cause of

action to file the suit and to maintain the suit as against

Defendant Nos. 2, 3 and 5. Moreover, as under Section

78(1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 the Central

Government was required to determine by an order the

rights of the plaintiff to utilization of power from the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects and the Central

Government has not done so, the Plaintiff-State has cause

of action to file the suit against the Defendant No.1. Issue

No.5 is answered accordingly.

52 Issue Nos. 6 55. For deciding issue No. 6, a reference to Section 78 of

the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 is necessary.

"78. Rights and liabilities in regard to

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects (1)

Notwithstanding anything contained in this

Act but subject to the provisions of sections 79

and 80, all rights and liabilities of the existing

State of Punjab in relation to Bhakra-Nangal

Project and Beas Project shall, on the

appointed day, be the rights and liabilities of

the successor States in such proportion as

may be fixed, and subject to such adjustments

as may be made, by agreement entered into by

the said States after consultation with the

Central Government or, if no such agreement

is entered into within two years of the

appointed day, as the Central Government

may by order determine having regard to the

purposes of the Projects :

Provided that the order so made by the Central

Government may be varied by any subsequent

agreement entered into by the successor States

after consultation with the Central

Government.

(2) An agreement or order referred to in sub-

section (1) shall, if there has been an extension

or further development of either of the projects

referred to in that sub-section after the

appointed day, provide also for the rights and

liabilities of the successor States in relation to

such extension or further development.

(3) The rights and liabilities referred to in sub-

sections (1) and (2) shall include-

53 (a) the rights to receive and to utilise

the water available for distribution as a

result of the projects, and

(b) the rights to receive and to utilise

the power generated as a result of the

projects, but shall not include the

rights and liabilities under any

contract entered into before the

appointed day by the Government of

the existing State of Punjab with any

person or authority other than

Government.

(4) In this section and in sections 79 and 80-

(A) "Beas Project" means the works which are

either under construction or are to be

constructed as components of the Beas-Sutlej

Link Project (Unit I) and Pong Dam Project on

the Beas river (Unit II) including-

(i) Beas-Sutlej Link Project (Unit I) comprising-

(a)Pandoh Dam and works

appurtenant thereto.

(b) Pandoh-Baggi Tunnel,

(c) Sundernagar-Hydel Channel,

(d) Sundernagar-Sutlej Tunnel,

(e) By-pass Tunnel,

(f) four generating units each of 165

M.W. capacity at Dehar Power House

on the right side of Sutlej river,

(g) fifth generating unit of 120 M.W.

capacity at Bhakra Right Bank Power

House,

54

(h) transmission lines,

(i) Balancing Reservoir;

(ii) Pong Dam Project (Unit II)

comprising-

(a) Pong Dam and works appurtenant

thereto,

(b) Outlet Works,

(c) Penstock Tunnels,

(d) Power plant with four generating

units of 60 M.W. each;

(iii) such other works as are ancillary to the

works aforesaid and are of common interest to

more than one State;

(B) "Bhakra-Nangal Project" means-

(i) Bhakra Dam, Reservoir and works

appurtenant thereto;

(ii) Nangal Dam and Nangal-Hydel

Channel;

(iii) Bhakra Main Line and canal

system;

(iv) Bhakra Left Bank Power House,

Ganguwal Power House and Kotla

Power House, switchyards, sub-

stations and transmission lines;

(v) Bhakra Right Bank Power House

with four units of 120 M.W. each."

55 56. Mr. Shyam Diwan, leaned counsel appearing for the

Defendant No.2, submitted that Section 78(1) of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 starts with the non-obstante

clause "Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act".

He argued that considering these opening words in Section

78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, no other

provisions of the Act should be looked into by the Court and

the rights and liabilities of the successor State of the

composite State of Punjab in regard to Bhakra-Nangal and

Beas Projects have to be decided with reference to the

provisions of Section 78 only. He submitted that Section

204(u) of the Government of India Act, 1935 was the

provision corresponding to Article 131 of the Constitution

and interpreting the said Section 204(u) of the Government

of India Act, 1935 the Federal Court has held in United

Provinces v. Governor-General in Council [AIR 1939 Federal

Court 58] that the term `legal right' used in Section 204

means a right recognized by law and capable of being

enforced by the power of a State. He submitted that under

Section 78 (1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, there

is no right of the Plaintiff-State to the power generated in

56

the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects except what is agreed

upon by the successor States or determined by the Central

Government and hence the right of the Plaintiff, if any, is

not enforceable in Court. He finally submitted that even if

this Court holds that the Plaintiff has a legal right to a share

of power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects,

this Court can only direct the Central Government to

determine the share of Himachal Pradesh and cannot itself

determine the share of Himachal Pradesh. Mr. Mohan Jain,

learned Additional Solicitor General, learned counsel

appearing for Defendant No.1, also made similar

submissions.

57. We are not in a position to accept the submissions of

learned counsel appearing on behalf of the Defendant Nos. 1

and 2 that this Court has no jurisdiction under Article 131

of the Constitution to determine the share of the Plaintiff to

the power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects. Section 78(1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966, it is true, provides that the rights and liabilities of the

successor States of the composite State of Punjab will be

fixed according to an agreement between the successor

57

States. But, as we will discuss under Issue No.7, there is

no such final agreement between the successor States with

regard to the share of power generated in the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects and there is only a `tentative, ad

hoc or interim arrangement' arrived at in the meeting held

on 17.04.1967. We may add here that even when this suit

was pending before this Court, an order was passed by this

Court on 29.04.2010 directing the Union of India to make a

final effort to bring all the parties to the dispute to the

negotiating table and by acting as a meaningful mediator

attempt to find a solution which is mutually acceptable to

all the parties and the case was adjourned for three months

to enable the parties to arrive at a mutually acceptable

solution with the guidance of the Union Government, but an

affidavit was filed in the Court on behalf of the Central

Government stating that a Secretary level meeting was held

with the stakeholder States but a settlement could not be

arrived at, as the stakeholder States stuck to their

respective claims. It is in these circumstances only that the

Court has proceeded to hear and decide the suit.

58 58. We have also perused the decision of the Federal Court

in United Provinces v. Governor-General in Council (supra)

cited by Mr. Diwan and we find that Sulaiman and

Varadachariar, JJ. have taken a view that the term `legal

right' used in Section 204 of the Government of India Act,

1935 means a right recognized by law and capable of being

enforced by the power of a State, but not necessarily in a

Court of Law. Section 78(1) by its plain language states

that all rights and liabilities of the existing State of Punjab

in relation to Bhakra-Nangal Project and Beas Project shall,

on the appointed day, be the rights and liabilities of the

successor States. This provision in Section 78 is enough to

confer a legal right on Himachal Pradesh as a successor

State in relation to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects.

Clause (b) of Sub-section (3) of Section 78 further provides

that the rights and liabilities referred to in sub-section (1)

shall include the rights to receive and utilize the power

generated as a result of the projects. This provision in

Section 78 further confirms that the rights of the successor

State such as the State of Himachal Pradesh includes the

right to receive and utilize the power generated as a result of

59

the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. The fact that the

rights and liabilities of the successor States were to be fixed

by an agreement to be entered into by the successor States

after consultation with the Central Government does not

affect the legal right of the State of Himachal Pradesh to

receive and utilize the power generated as a result of

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. Similarly, the fact that

in the absence of any agreement within two years as

stipulated in sub-section (1) of Section 78 the Central

Government was empowered to determine by an order the

right and liabilities of the successor States does not affect

the legal right of the State of Himachal Pradesh to receive

and utilize the power generated as a result of the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects. We have, therefore, no doubt in

our mind that the Plaintiff had a legal right as a successor

State of the composite State of Punjab to receive and utilize

the power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects and this right was recognized by law and capable of

being enforced by the power of the State.

59. Article 131 of the Constitution provides that this Court

has original jurisdiction in any dispute between the parties

60

mentioned therein if and in so far as the dispute involves

any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence

or extent of a legal right depends. Hence, this Court has

jurisdiction not only to decide any question on which the

existence of a legal right depends but also to decide any

dispute involving any question on which the extent of a legal

right depends. We, therefore, have the jurisdiction to decide

the extent to which Plaintiff-State would be entitled to

receive and utilize the power generated in the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects. In other words, the suit of the

Plaintiff is not barred by the scheme of Sections 78 to 80 of

the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Issue No.6 is

answered accordingly.

Issue No.7

60. Mr. Mohan Jain, the Additional Solicitor General

appearing for Defendant No.1 and Mr. Shyam Diwan,

learned counsel for Defendant No.2, submitted that Section

78 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, provides that

the rights and liabilities in regard to Bhakra-Nangal and

Beas Projects of the successor States of the composite State

of Punjab shall be in such proportion as may be fixed by an

61

agreement entered into by the successor States after

consultation with the Central Government or, if no such

agreement is entered into within two years of the appointed

day, as the Central Government may by order determine

having regard to the purposes of the Projects. They

submitted that the rights and liabilities of the successor

States in regard to Bhakra-Nangal Project have already been

fixed by the agreement dated 17.04.1967.

61. Mr. A.K. Ganguli, learned counsel for the Plaintiff, on

the other hand, submitted that no agreement whatsoever in

terms of Section 78(1) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966 has been arrived at between the parties and the

agreement dated 17.04.1967 is only `tentative, ad hoc or

provisional arrangement' pending final determination of

rights and liabilities of the successor States of the composite

State of Punjab. He submitted that the Plaintiff did not

accept the tentative, adhoc or provisional arrangement

made on 17.04.1967 and lodged its claim with the Central

Government in its letter dated 27.10.1969 marked as Ext.

P-12 claiming share to the extent of 7.19% of the total

benefits from Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects, but the

62

Central Government did not decide the claim of the Plaintiff-

State and hence the Plaintiff had no option but to file the

suit under Article 131 before this Court.

62. We have gone through the evidence and we find that

by a letter dated 12.03.1967 of the Government of India,

Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs,

addressed to the Secretaries, Finance Department of the

Government of Punjab and Haryana, marked as Ex.P-4,

liability for the loan taken by the composite State of Punjab

from the Central Government for Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects have been allocated `provisionally' among the

successor States of Punjab and Haryana in the ratio of

53:47 (for Bhakra Loans) and 60:40 (for Beas Project) for the

purpose of repayment of principal and payment of interest.

In the said letter (Ex.P-4) it is clearly stated that the

allocation is a `purely an ad hoc and temporary

arrangement' and will be subject to re-adjustment later

when the final allocation of the debt is made in terms of the

provisions of Section 54(3) of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966. The summary of discussions held in the room of the

Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation and Power on 17.04.1967

63

regarding the formation of two separate Electricity Boards

for Haryana and Punjab and related matters have been

circulated by a memorandum dated 27.04.1967 of the

Government of India, Ministry of Irrigation and Power,

marked as Ex.D-1/6. Para 3 of the summary discussions

which records the alleged agreement between the successor

States with regard to allocation of assets and liabilities in

relation to the Bhakra-Nangal Project and the Beas Project

is extracted hereinbelow:

"Shri Nawab Singh stated that a decision on

the tentative allocation of assets and

liabilities of Punjab and Haryana had been

taken earlier on the basis of 58% : 42%. Now

the shares of the Union Territories of

Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh had to be

decided. He further stated that at a meeting

held in this regard recently an agreement had

been reached on the allocation of a share of

3.5% to Chandigarh and 2.5% to Himachal

Pradesh and the remaining, ratio of 58:42.

On this basis, the shares of the four

constituents would become as under:

Punjab - 54.5%

Haryana - 39.5%

Chandigarh - 3.5%

Himachal Pradesh - 2.5%

The above percentages were agreed to the

Power Houses, sub-stations, Transmission

Lines will, of course, be owned on the basis of

location etc. as per distribution shown in

Annexure-I. It was further decided that the

64

depreciation accrued and loans raised for any

particular fixed asset would be allocated

along with the asset itself as per Annexure-I

and that the distribution systems and other

small lengths of transmission lines, sub-

stations etc. not included in the list will go to

the successor States on location basis."

It will be clear that the decision on the `tentative' allocation

of asset and liabilities of Punjab and Haryana had been

taken first and this was 58% for Punjab and 42% for

Haryana and the shares of Chandigarh and Himachal

Pradesh were determined at the meeting held on 17.04.1967

and the resultant allocation was 54% for Punjab, 39% for

Haryana, 3.5% for Chandigarh and 2.5% for Himachal

Pradesh. The record of the discussions for allocation of

shares of the 4 constituent of the composite State of Punjab

shows that the basis for distribution was location of the

power houses, sub-stations, transmission lines etc. Along

with the record of discussion, the list of fixed assets

`tentatively' allocated to the Haryana Electricity Board,

Punjab Electricity Board, Union Territory of Himachal

Pradesh and Union Territory of Chandigarh were annexed.

Similarly, the list showing `tentative' apportionment of

financial assets and liabilities as agreed in the meeting held

65

on 17.04.1967 was also annexed. It thus appears that

allocation of rights and liabilities to the constituents of the

composite State of Punjab which took place at the meeting

held on 17.04.1967 was purely `tentative' and not final.

This is confirmed in the letter dated 29.05.1967 of the

Government of India, Ministry of Irrigation and Power,

marked as Ex.P-7, addressed to the Secretaries to the

Government of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan on the

subject `Financial Arrangements for Bhakra and Beas

Projects', in which it is reiterated that the allocation was

purely on ad hoc and tentative basis and was to be without

prejudice to the rights of Governments of Punjab and

Haryana and was subject to re-adjustment later when final

allocation of debt liability is made and the ratio in which

capital and reserve expenditure in respect of the project is

decided in terms of the provisions of Section 54(3) of Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966. We also find from the evidence

that by a letter dated 20.03.1978 addressed by the Ministry

of Energy, Government of India to Shri Shanta Kumar, Chief

Minister of Himachal Pradesh, 15 MW of power has been

allotted on `ad hoc basis' to Himachal Pradesh pending a

66

final decision of the concerned States if Himachal Pradesh

was agreeable to the proportionate cost of the project. In an

another subsequent letter dated 16.08.1983 of the

Government of India, Ministry of Energy (Department of

Power) to the Chairman, Bhakra Beas Management Board,

marked as Ex.P-48, it is expressly stated:

"The quantum of benefits from Bhakra and

Beas projects presently allocated to these two

areas on an ad hoc basis will remain

unaltered until a final decision is taken on

the sharing of the rights and liabilities of all

the successor states in the two projects."

The documentary evidence before the Court, therefore,

clearly establishes that the allocation of power to Himachal

Pradesh to the extent of 2.45% of the share of the power of

the composite State of Punjab from both Bhakra and Beas

Projects was `tentative and ad hoc' and not final. There is,

in other words, no final agreement between the successor

States of the composite State of Punjab with regard to the

rights and liabilities of the successor States including the

right to the power generated in the Bhakra and Beas

Projects in terms of Section 78(1) of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966. Issue No.7 is answered

accordingly.

67 Issue No.8

63. Mr. Ganguli, learned counsel for the Plaintiff,

submitted that the territorial integrity of Bilaspur State

could not be affected by submergence on account of

construction of Bhakra Dam without the consent of the

Bilaspur State and the Raja of Bilaspur while giving such

consent, incorporated in the draft agreement various

conditions such as payment of royalty and transfer of power

to Bilaspur as a consideration for construction of the

Bhakra Dam. He submitted that as the Bilaspur State

became part of Himachal Pradesh and the State of Himachal

Pradesh as the Mother State bears the reservoir of Bhakra-

Nangal Project, Himachal Pradesh is the Mother State vis-`-

vis the Bhakra-Nangal Project. He submitted that similarly

as Himachal Pradesh bears the reservoir of the Beas Project,

Himachal Pradesh is also the "Mother State" vis-`-vis the

Beas Project. He submitted that the Union Government has

taken a decision that the Mother State or the Home State

where a hydro-electric power project is located, will be

supplied 12% of the power generated by the power station

free of cost and this will be evident from the letter dated

68

22.07.1985 of the Government of India, Ministry of

Irrigation & Power (Department of Power) to the Chairman,

H. P. State Electricity Board, which has been produced and

marked as Ext. P-55. He submitted that the Himachal

Pradesh Assembly accordingly adopted a resolution on

13.03.1984 making a demand to the Union of India to give

to Himachal Pradesh 12% free power from Bhakra, Dehar

and Pong power projects in lieu of use of water and land of

Himachal Pradesh for generation of electricity and

accordingly the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh

addressed a letter on 18.06.1984 forwarding a copy of the

resolution of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly claiming 12%

free supply of power to Himachal Pradesh from Bhakra,

Dehar and Pong power projects, but this claim of Himachal

Pradesh has not been accepted by the Central Government.

Mr. Ganguli referred to the letter dated 19.02.1968 of Shri

Y. S. Parmar to Dr. K. L. Rao, Union Minister of Irrigation &

Power, marked as Ext. P-8, to show how in the case of other

projects, namely, the Periyar Project in the Madras State

and the Muchkund Project in Orissa State benefits have

been given to the State whose resources are affected on

69

account of the construction of hydro-electric project. He

also referred to the views of the Vice-Chairman of the

Central Water and Power Commission in his communication

dated 02.05.1968, marked as Ext. P-10, suggesting that the

Himachal Pradesh should be made an active partner of the

Hydro-Electric Project borne by it by paying to Himachal

Pradesh the annual royalties based on actual utilization of

the water, power rights. He argued that all these materials

clearly show that Himachal Pradesh is entitled to 12% free

power from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects by virtue

of it being the Mother State or the Home State and by virtue

of loss of its land and water on account of the Bhakra and

Beas Projects.

64. Mr. Shyam Diwan, learned counsel for the Defendant

No.2, submitted that this claim of the Plaintiff to 12% free

power is based upon a notion that Himachal Pradesh has

some pre-existing or natural rights over its land and water.

He submitted that under Article 3 of the Constitution

Parliament has power to form a new State, increase the area

of any State, diminish the area of any State, alter the

boundaries of any State and alter the name of any State

70

and, therefore, States in India are not indestructible and the

territorial integrity of the States can be destroyed by

Parliament by law. He argued that the whole notion of

Himachal Pradesh having any rights over its land and water

apart from what is given by Parliament by law is thus alien

to the Indian Constitution. He submitted that the State of

Himachal Pradesh cannot have any right dehors the Punjab

Reoganisation Act, 1966 made under Article 3 of the

Constitution. In support of this submission, he relied on

the decisions of this Court in Babulal Parate v. State of

Bombay and another (supra) and Kuldip Nayar& Ors. v.

Union of India & Ors. [(2006) 7 SCC 1).

65. We find that under the provisions of Article 3 of the

Constitution, Parliament has the power to form a new State

by separation of territory from any State or by uniting two

or more States or parts of States or by uniting any territory

to a part of any State, increase the area of any State,

diminish the area of any State, alter the boundaries of any

State and alter the name of any State, but under Article 3,

Parliament cannot take away the powers of the State

Executive or the State Legislature in respect of matters

71

enumerated in List-II of the Seventh Schedule to the

Constitution. This has been made clear in the speech of Dr.

B.R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly quoted in Para

52 of the decision of this Court in Kuldip Nayar v. Union of

India & Ors. (supra). Relevant portion from the speech of

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is quoted hereinbelow:-

".... The basic principle of federalism is that

the legislative and executive authority is

partitioned between the Centre and the States

not by any law to be made by the Centre but

by the Constitution itself. This is what

Constitution does. The States under our

Constitution are in no way dependent upon

the Centre for their legislative or executive

authority. The Centre and the States are

coequal in this matter....."

66. We have however held, while answering Issue No.2,

that pursuant to the Bilaspur Merger Agreement, the States

Merger (Chief Commissioners Provinces) Order, 1949,

inclusion of the Bilaspur State as a Part-C State in the First

Schedule of the Constitution and Article 294(b) of the

Constitution, the Raja of Bilaspur lost all rights first to the

Dominion of India and thereafter to the Government of India

and that the Plaintiff, therefore, could not have any cause of

action to make any claim on the basis of any right of Raja of

72

Bilaspur prior to the merger of the Bilaspur State with the

Dominion of India. The Plaintiff, therefore, cannot claim

any free power because of loss of land and water by the Raja

of Bilaspur. We have also held while answering Issue No.5

that in 1959 when the States of Punjab and Rajasthan

agreed to construct the Bhakra Dam, Himachal Pradesh

was a Union Territory and the executive and legislative

power over water and land under Entries 17 and 18 of List-

II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution vested in the

Union of India and the Union of India in exercise of its

constitutional powers acquiesced in the construction of the

Dam at Bhakra over river Satluj. We have also held while

answering to Issue No.5 that in 1960-1961 when the

Himachal Pradesh was a Union Territory, the States of

Punjab and Rajasthan also decided to collaborate and

undertake the execution of the Beas Project and the

Government of India, Ministry of Irrigation & Power, in fact,

adopted a resolution on 10.02.1961 constituting the Beas

Control Board for early execution of the Beas Project. Thus,

at the time of the Bhakra-Nangal Project and the Beas

Project were executed, Himachal Pradesh was not a full

73

fledged State having the rights and powers under Articles

162 and 246 (3) of the Constitution over its land and water

under Entries 17 and 18 of List-II of the Seventh Schedule

to the Constitution and it was the Union of India which had

such rights and powers over the land and water in

Himachal Pradesh by virtue of the provisions of Article 73

and Article 246(4) of the Constitution.

67. The State Reorganisation Act, 1966 and, in particular

Section 78 thereof, does not also provide for grant of 12%

free power to the State of Himachal Pradesh. It only

provides for the rights and liabilities of Himachal Pradesh as

a successor State of the Composite State of Punjab and

what would be such rights and liabilities of Himachal

Pradesh as a successor State of the Composite State of

Punjab will be discussed while answering the Issue No.9.

68. The claim of the Plaintiff to 12% free power therefore is

not based on any legal right of the Plaintiff, constitutional or

statutory, but only on the decision of the Government of

India referred to in the letter dated 22.07.1985 of the

Government of India, Ministry of Irrigation & Power,

74

(Department of Power) to the Chairman, H.P. State

Electricity Board (Ext. P-55) which is extracted hereinbelow

in extenso:-

"K. Padmabhaiah

Jt. Secretary

Government of India

Ministry of Irrigation & Power

(Department of Power)

(Sanchai aur Vidyut Mantralaya

New Delhi the 22nd July 1985

D.O.No. 53/3/79-DDH

Dear Shri Mahajan,

I am glad to inform you that the formula for

sharing of power and benefits from Central Sector

Hydro Electric Projects has been modified by the

Cabinet on 12.02.1985. The revised formula is

reproduced below for your information:-

(a) 15% of the generation capacity should be

kept as unallocated at the disposal of the Central

Govt. to be distributed within the Region or

outside, depending upon overall requirements.

(b) The "Home State", i.e. where the project is

located will be supplied 12% of power from the

energy generated by the power station, free of cost.

The "energy generated" figures for the purpose will

be calculated at the bus bar level, i.e. after

discounting the auxiliary consumption but without

taking into account the transmission line losses

and

(c) The remaining power (73%) would be

distributed between the States of region (including

75

the Home State) on the basis of Central Assistance

given to various States in the region during the

last five years and on the basis of consumption of

electricity in the States in the region in the last five

years, the two factors being given equal weightage.

2. This revised formula would be applicable in

respect of those Central Sector Hydro Electric

Projects in whose case sanction for investment

decision is issued after 12.02.1985.

3. The Cabinet has also approved the concept

of Joint ventures between the Union and one or

more State Government for implementation of

hydro-electric projects in such projects, the

partner State/States would be entitled to the

supply of quantity of power proportionate to their

investment, at bus bar rates, after supply of 12%

free power to the Home State. The Centre's share

of power would be distributed from such projects

as per the formula for Central Sector Hydro

Electric Projects, i.e. 15% to be reserved with the

Centre as unallocated share and the balance to be

distributed between the States of the region on the

basis of two factors enumerated in (c) of para (1)

above.

With regards,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(K. Padmanabhaiah)

Shri Kailash Chand Mahajan,

Chairman,

H. P. State Electricity Board,

Vidyut Bhawan"

69. It will be crystal clear from the aforesaid letter dated

22.07.1985 that the formula of supply of 12% free power

76

from the energy generated by a power station to the Home

State is applicable to Central Sector Hydro-Electric Projects

and with effect from 12.02.1985 the Union Cabinet has

made this applicable to Joint Ventures between the Union

and one or more State Governments for implementation of

Hydro-Electric Projects and as per this formula after supply

of 12% free power to the Home State, the remaining power is

to be distributed to the partner States proportionate to their

investment. This formula of making 12% free power from

the energy generated by a power station is purely a policy-

decision taken by the Government of India much after the

Bhakra-Nangal Project and Beas Project were executed and

in any case does not find place in any provision of law so as

to confer a legal right on the Plaintiff to claim the same.

Our answer to Issue No.8 is that the Plaintiff-State is not

entitled to 12% power generated from the Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects free of cost from the date of

commissioning of the Projects.

77

Issue No.9

70. The claim of the Plaintiff to allocation of 7.19% of the

total power generated in Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Project

from 01.01.1996 is based on the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966 and the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970. We

have already extracted Section 78 of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966, while answering Issue No. 6.

The other provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act,

1966, which are relevant for deciding this issue, are

extracted herein below:

"Section 2(b) "appointed day" means the 1st day

of November, 1966;

.......................................................................

.......................................................................

(f) "existing State of Punjab" means the State of

Punjab as existing immediately before the

appointed day;

(i) "population ratio", in relation to the States of

Haryana and Punjab and the union, means the

ration of 37.38 to 54.84 to 7.78;

(m) "successor state", in relation to the existing

State of Punjab means the State of Punjab or

Haryana, and includes also the Union in relation

to the Union rerritory of Chandigarh and the

transferred territory;

(n) "transferred territory" means the territory

which on the appointed day is transferred from

78

the existing State of Punjab to the Union territory

of Himachal Pradesh;

Section 5. Transfer of territory from

Punjab to Himachal Pradesh. - (1) On and from

the appointed day, there shall be added to the

Union territory of Himachal Pradesh the

territories in the existing State of Punjab

comprised in-

(a) Simla, Kangra, Kulu and lahul and Spiti

districts;

(b) Nalagarh tehsil of Ambala district;

(c) Lohara, Amb and Una kanungo circles of Una

tehsil of Hoshiarpur district;

(d) the territories in Santokhgarh kanungo circle

of Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur district specified in

Part I of the Third Schedule;

(e) the territories in Una tehsil of Hoshiarpur

district specified in part II of the Third Schedule;

and

(f) the territories of Dhar Kalan Kanungo circle of

Pathankot tehsil of Gurdaspur district specified

in Part III of the Third Schedule,

and thereupon the said territories shall cease to

form part of the existing State of Punjab.

(2) The territories referred to in clause (b) of sub

section (1) shall be included in, and form part of

Simla district.

(3) The territories referred to in clauses (c), and

(d) and (e) of sub-section (1) shall be included in

and form part of Kangra district, and

(i) the territories referred to in clauses (c) and (d)

shall form a separate tehsil known as Una tehsil

in that district and in that tehsil the territories

79

referred to in clause (d) shall form a seperate

kanungo circle known as the Santokhgarh

kanungo circle; and

(ii) the territories referred to in clause (e) shall

form part of the Hamirpur tehsil in the said

district.

(4) The territories referred to in clause (f) of sub-

section (1) shall be included in, and form part of

the Bhattiyat tehsil of Chamba district in the

Union territory of Himachal Pradesh and in that

tehsil, the villages Dalhousie and Balun shall be

included in, and form part of Banikhet kanungo

circle and the village Bakloh shall form part of

Chowari kanungo circle."

71. The State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970

thereafter established the New State of Himachal Pradesh

comprising the territories which were comprised in the

existing Union Territory of Himachal Pradesh. In exercise

of the powers conferred on the Central Government under

Section 38 of the State of Himachal Pradesh Act, 1970,

the Central Government has passed an order dated

07.07.1972 called `the State of Himachal Pradesh

(Transfer of Assets and Liabilities) Order, 1972'. Para 7

of this Order, which is relevant and is extracted

hereinbelow:

"For the purposes of paragraphs 5 and 6 of this

order the provisions of Section 2 of the Punjab

80 Reorganisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), shall

have effect as if: (i) for clause (i), the following

clauses had been substituted namely:

(i) "Population ratio" in relation to the States of

Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh and

the Union means the ratio of 37.38 to 54.84 to

7.10 to 0.59%".

(ii) For clause (m), the following clause had

been substituted namely:

(m) "Successor State" in relation to the existing

State Punjab means the State of Punjab or the

State of Haryana or the State of Himachal

Pradesh and includes also the Union, in relation

to the Union Territory of Chandigarh."

72. Mr. Ganguli, learned counsel for the

Plaintiff, submitted that it will be clear from clause (i) of

para 7 of the State of Himachal Pradesh (Transfer of

Assets and Liabilities) Order, 1972 that the population

ratio in relation to the States of Haryana, Punjab and

Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh

is Haryana: 37.38%, Punjab: 54.84, Himachal Pradesh:

7.19% and Chandigarh: 0.59%. He argued that on the

basis of such population ratio, the Plaintiff is, therefore,

entitled to 7.19% of the total power generated in the

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects as a successor State of

81

the composite State of Punjab. He submitted that the

allocation of only 2.5% of the power from Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects to the State of Himachal Pradesh as

compared to the allocation of 54.5% to Punjab and 39.5%

to Haryana and 3.5% to Chandigarh, is in violation of the

right of the Plaintiff-State to equal treatment. He

submitted that the Plaintiff has, therefore, sent by the

letter dated 22.10.1969, produced and marked as Ext. P-

12, to the Joint Secretary, Government of India, Ministry

of Home Affairs, New Delhi, claiming a share to the extent

of 7.19% of the total benefits from the Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects on the basis of transfer of 7.19% of the

population of the composite Punjab State to Himachal

Pradesh along with the transferred territory, but the

Central Government has not passed any order as yet

granting the Plaintiff its share of 7.19% of the power

generated from the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects on

the basis of the ratio of population transferred to the

Plaintiff-State along with the transferred territory.

73. Mr. Mohan Jain, learned ASG appearing for the

Defendant No.1 and Mr. Shyam Diwan appearing for

82

Defendant No.2, on the other hand, submitted that since

there was an agreement between the successor States

arrived at in the meeting held on 17.04.1967 and this

agreement was entered into within two years stipulated in

Section 78(1) of the Punjab Reorgansiation Act, 1966 and

was binding on the parties, the Plaintiff-State is not

entitled to 7.19% of the share of power generated in

Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects. They further

submitted that Section 78(1) of the Punjab

Reorgansiation Act, 1966 is clear that the rights and

liabilities of the successor State of the composite Punjab

State in relation to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects are

to be settled by agreement within two years or by an

order passed by the Central Government if no such

agreement is entered into within two years and, therefore,

this Court cannot consider the claim of the Plaintiff to a

share of 7.19% of the power generated in the two

Projects.

74. The language of Section 78(1) shows that the

right of the successor States in relation to Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects are rights on account of their

83

succession to the composite State of Punjab on the

reorganization of the composite State of Punjab. The

language of Section 78 further makes it clear that if no

agreement is entered into between the States within two

years of the appointed day, the Central Government was

required to determine the rights and liabilities of the

successor States "having regard to the purposes of the

Projects". Hence, the purposes of the Bhakra-Nangal

and Beas Projects will have to be kept in mind while

deciding the share of the successor States.

75. The purposes of the Bhakra-Nangal Project, as

evident from the agreement dated 13.01.1959 between

the State of Punjab and the State of Rajasthan, were

"improvement or irrigation and generation of Hydro-

electric power". Clause 9(2) of the agreement dated

13.01.1959 (Ext. D-1/3) provides that the shares of the

Punjab and Rajasthan in the stored water supplies was to

be 84.78% and 15.22% respectively and clause 32 of this

agreement provides that each party shall contribute to

the capital cost of the electrical portion of the project in

proportion to the share of either party in the stored water

84

supply. Thus, the capital cost contributed by the

composite State of Punjab for construction of the Hydro-

electric project of Bhakra-Nangal was 84.78% and this

capital cost was borne by the composite State of Punjab

as a whole including the transferred territory which

formed part of the State of Himachal Pradesh. Similarly,

we find on a reading of the record of decisions arrived at

the inter-State Conference on development and utilization

of the waters of the rivers Ravi and Beas held on

25.01.1955 marked as Ext. D-4/10 as well as the

minutes of the 6th meeting of the Beas Central Board held

on 13.12.1963 marked as Ex. D-4/15 that 85% of the

capital cost of Unit-I and 32% of the capital cost of Unit-

II of Beas Project were to be met by the composite State of

Punjab as a whole including the transferred territory

which formed part of the State of Himachal Pradesh.

76. The purposes of the Bhakra-Nangal and the Beas

Projects, therefore, were to benefit the entire composite

State of Punjab including the transferred territory which

became part of Himachal Pradesh. If the ratio of the

population of this transferred territory vis-`-vis the

85

composite State of Punjab was 7.19% and the transferred

territory as detailed in Section 5 of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 extracted above was not small,

allocation of only 7.19% of the share of power of the

composite State of Punjab generated in the Bhakra-

Nangal and Beas Projects was only fair and equitable.

The allocation of only 2.5% of the total share of the power

of the composite State of Punjab generated in the two

Projects to Himachal Pradesh has been made on the

basis of actual consumption of power by the people in the

transferred territory and the location of the sub-stations

in the transferred territory. The summary of discussion

held in the room of the Secretary, Ministry of Irrigation

and Power, on 17.04.1967 (Ext. D-1/6) shows that the

allocation of power to Punjab is 54.5% of the total power

whereas the allocation of power to Haryana is 39.5% of

the total power available to the composite State of

Punjab. These allocations appear to have been done on

the basis of the population ratio of Punjab and Haryana

in the composite State, which were 54.84% and 37.38%

respectively. Thus, while States of Punjab and Haryana

86

have been allocated power on the basis of their

population ratio, Himachal Pradesh has been allocated

power on "as is where is basis".

77. Equal treatment warranted that the Plaintiff-

State was allocated 7.19% of the total power generated in

the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas Projects (after excluding the

power allocated to the Defendant No.4 - State of

Rajasthan) from the appointed day as defined in the

Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, i.e. 01.11.1966.

Considering the fact that Chandigarh is the Capital of

both Punjab and Haryana, these two States should meet

the power requirements of the Union Territory of

Chandigarh out of their share. We accordingly order that

the entitlement of power of the constituents of the

composite State of Punjab from the Bhakra-Nangal and

Beas Projects will be at the following percentages:

Himachal Pradesh : 7.19%

UT of Chandigarh : 3.5%

Punjab : 51.8%

Haryana : 37.51%

87

Therefore, the entitlement of the Plaintiff out of the total

production will be as under:

Project Entitlement in With effect from

total production

(i) Bhakra-Nangal 6.095% 01.11.1966

(7.19% of 84.78%) (date of re-organisation)

(ii) Beas I 5.752% From the date of

(7.19% of 80%) commencement of

Production

(iii) Beas II 2.984% From the date of

(7.19% of 41.5%) commencement of

Production

From the above entitlement, what has been received by

the Plaintiff in regard to Bhakra-Nangal and Beas I have

to be deducted for the purpose of finding out the amount

due to the Plaintiff-State from the States of Punjab and

Haryana upto October, 2011.

Issue No. 10

78. On the basis of its entitlement to 7.19% of the

total power generated in the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas

Projects, the Plaintiff has filed Statements I and III.

These statements, however, are disputed by the

Defendants in their written statements. The Defendant

No.1-Union of India will have to work out the details of

88

the claim of the Plaintiff-State on the basis of the

entitlements of the Plaintiff, Defendant No.2 and

Defendant No.3 in the tables in Paragraph 77 above as

well as all other rights and liabilities of the Plaintiff-State,

the Defendant Nos. 2 and 3 in accordance with the

provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 and

file a statement in this Court stating the amount due to

the Plaintiff from Defendant Nos.2 and 3 upto October,

2011.

Issue No. 11 79. Since the Defendant Nos. 2 and 3 have utilized

power in excess of what was due to them under law, we

also hold that the Plaintiff-State will be entitled to

interest at the rate of 6% on the amounts determined by

the Union of India to be due from Defendant Nos.2 and 3.

80. Reliefs:

(i) The suit is decreed in part against Defendant

Nos. 2 and 3 and dismissed against Defendant Nos. 1, 4

and 5.

89

(ii) It is hereby declared that the Plaintiff-State is

entitled to 7.19% of the power of the composite State of

Punjab from the Bhakra-Nangal Project with effect from

01.11.1966 and from Beas Project with effect from the

dates of production in Unit I and Unit II.

(iii) It is ordered that Defendant No.1 will work out the

details of the claim of the Plaintiff-State on the basis of

such entitlements of the Plaintiff, Defendant No.2 and

Defendant No.3 in the tables in Paragraph 77 of this

judgment as well as all other rights and liabilities of the

Plaintiff-State, Defendant No.2 and Defendant No.3 in

accordance with the provisions of the Punjab

Reorganisation Act, 1966 and file a statement in this

Court within six months from today stating the amounts

due to the Plaintiff-State from Defendant Nos. 3 and 4.

(iv) On the amount found to be due to the Plaintiff-

State for the period from 01.11.1966 in the case of

Bhakra-Nangal Project and the amount found due to the

Plaintiff-State for the period from the dates of production

in the case of Beas Project, the Plaintiff-State would be

90

entitled to 6% interest from Defendant Nos. 2 and 3 till

date of payment.

(v) With effect from November 2011, the Plaintiff-

State would be given its share of 7.19% as decreed in this

judgment.

(vi) The Plaintiff-State will be entitled to a cost of Rs. 5

lakhs from Defendant No.2 and a cost of Rs.5 lakhs from

Defendant No.3.

The matter will be listed after six months along

with the statements to be prepared and filed by the

Defendant No.1 as ordered for verification of the

statements and for making the final decree.

..........................J.

(R. V. Raveendran)

..........................J.

(A. K. Patnaik)

New Delhi,

September 27, 2011.