Mekedatu Dam Row: TN Assembly Passes Amended Resolution Unanimously, HC Issues Notices

The Advocate General of Tamil Nadu, Vijay Narayan, informed the Madras High Court on Thursday that an amended resolution on the Mekedatu Dam project was passed unanimously by the Legislative Assembly on June 19, 2026. The resolution urges the Centre to constitute a special tribunal under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

Appearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan, the Advocate General stated that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had originally moved a resolution opposing Karnataka's plan to construct the Mekedatu Dam across the Cauvery River. Following a request from Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Chief Minister agreed to amend the resolution to also demand the formation of a new tribunal to resolve the interstate water dispute.

The Advocate General noted that the Chief Minister informed the House about a consultation with legal experts on May 25 and assured that the government was already taking legal steps for setting up a special tribunal. The Speaker, J.C.D. Prabhakar, then put the amended resolution to vote, and it was declared passed unanimously as no objections were raised, including by AIADMK whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy, who later filed a writ petition challenging the resolution.

Senior counsel S.R. Rajagopal, representing the AIADMK whip, contested the Advocate General's account. He argued that the amended resolution was never debated; only the original resolution, circulated a day earlier, had been debated and approved. He claimed the amendment was introduced at the last moment and not properly discussed.

After hearing preliminary submissions, the court issued notices to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretary, the Chief Secretary, and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, returnable by August 14. The judges directed the respondents to file counter affidavits within two weeks to the writ petition challenging the amended resolution.

The Mekedatu Dam project has been a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu opposing the construction, fearing adverse impact on its water share from the Cauvery River. The demand for a special tribunal aims for an exclusive adjudication of the dispute.