The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT) has turned down a plea by Andhra Pradesh to postpone the hearing of the case being argued for deciding the river water share between A.P. and Telangana fixed for July 1 to 3.
Chairman of the tribunal, Brijesh Kumar, on Tuesday took up the application filed by A.P. on June 6 seeking adjournment of the hearing scheduled from July 1 to 3 in the presence of advocate G. Umapathi on behalf of A.P. and Superintending Engineer V. Mohan Kumar, who was present on behalf of Telangana.
In the application filed for adjournment of the hearing, A.P. informed the tribunal that due to change of the government in A.P., the legal team arguing the case on its behalf was likely to be reconstituted soon and it would be difficult for the new counsel, who may be appointed, to prepare for the ongoing cross-examination of the witnesses of Telangana in the short time available.
The present legal team arguing the case for A.P. is headed by senior advocate A.K. Ganguli and comprises senior advocate V. Krishnamurthy, advocate on record G. Prabhakar and advocates G. Umpathi, G. Pramod Kumar and Arunabha Ganguli.
The tribunal, in the order dated June 4, allowed Telangana’s application to produce its second witness for cross-examination in place of the first witness, K. Palanisami, whose cross-examination is yet to be completed, since the latter had to leave for the United States on account of serious illness to his grandchild.
Mr. Umapathi stressed that preparing for cross-examination of the second witness in a short time would be difficult for the new counsel.
He also brought to the notice of the tribunal that he too would not be available for some time and would be returning only on June 28 and thus, would not be able to assist the new counsel.
Further, he submitted to the tribunal that since Mr. Palanisami was stated to be available for his cross-examination as per the order dated May 14, there was no occasion to be ready for the cross-examination of the second witness.
In the order issued here on Tuesday, Justice Brijesh Kumar noted that he had consulted the members, Justice B.P. Das and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, over telephone on the Andhra Pradesh’s application and said that the dates fixed by the tribunal on May 14 for the next hearing from July 1 to 3 and July 29 to 31 was both for the evidence and further cross-examination of Mr. Palanisami as well as for any other witnesses.
Even in case of reconstitution of the legal team of A.P., it still would have enough time for preparing for the cross-examination, he observed.