"When will you wake up from deep slumber," SC asks Centre

A three judge bench of justices Altamsa Kabir, S S Nijjar and Gyan Sudha Mishra expressed anguish at violation of its orders being done "with impunity" by the Union Government, which it felt, was not befitting its stature.

"You are deliberately violating compliance of our orders with impunity. When will you wake up from your deep slumber. What do you need to wake you up.

"We have been repeatedly passing orders. What is the point in merely filing affidavits and replies. This is not expected of the Union of India," the bench remarked.

The apex court's observation came in the course of the application moved by Andhra Pradesh Government, accusing the Centre of violating court's direction for setting up of the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (VWDT).

Senior counsel C S Vaidyanathan appearing for the State submitted that despite repeated directions, the Centre had failed to provide necessary accommodation and infrastructure for the VWDT.

He pointed out that though the apex court had on February 6, 2009, directed the Centre to constitute within six months the tribunal, the necessary notification for setting up of the VWDT was done only on February 24, 2010.

But till date, despite its constitution, no office accommodation or any infrastructure has been provided to the tribunal making it non-functional.

On November 26, 2010, and April 8, the apex court had passed orders for providing the required infrastructure and the Centre gave undertakings to the effect, but the same were violated, the counsel pointed.

The apex court after hearing the submission made the observation and posted the matter for further hearing to September 20.