Article 262

Part XI — Relations between the Union and the States · Constitution of India

Article 262

Adjudication of disputes relating to waters of inter-State rivers or river valleys. (1) Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley. (2) Notwithstanding anything in this 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 as is referred to in clause (1).

In plain wordsParliament can create a system to settle disputes between states over the waters of inter-State rivers, and can bar every court, including the Supreme Court, from hearing such disputes. This is why big river-sharing fights between states go to special tribunals rather than ordinary courts.

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