The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was constituted by the Government of India in June 1990 to adjudicate the water dispute regarding inter-state river Cauvery and the river valley thereof.  The Tribunal had passed an Interim Order in June, 1991 and further Clarificatory Orders on the Interim Order in April, 1992 and December, 1995. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal has submitted its reports and decision under Section 5 (2) of Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to Government on 5^th February, 2007. The party states and the Central Govt. have sought clarification and guidelines under Section 5(3) of the Act.  

The terms of the tribunal has been extended upto 2.11.08 as per provisions of ISRWD Act, 1956.  Further, the party states have also filled SLPs in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against Cauvery tribunals report and Hon’ble Supreme Court has granted leave.  The matter was last heard by Hon’ble Supreme Court on 29.7.08 and the Hon’ble court passed the order that the matter maybe listed before a three Judge bench in Nov, 2008.

Three years have passed since the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) gave its final award on inter-State sharing of the river waters. The Inter-State Waters Dispute Act, 1956 bars any court, including the Supreme Court, from having or exercising jurisdiction, after its publication in the Official Gazette by the Central Government. The final award of the CWDT has not entered into force because it has not been gazetted because the matter has been taken to the Supreme Court. 

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