SC refuses urgent hearing on PIL

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant an urgent hearing on a PIL seeking declaration of the India-Pakistan Indus Waters Treaty as unconstitutional.

“There is no urgency in the matter. It will come up for hearing in due course,” a bench comprising Chief Justice TS Thakur and justice AM Khanwilkar said.

Advocate ML Sharma, who filed the public interest litigation (PIL) in his personal capacity on the issue, sought an urgent hearing of the matter.

He said that the treaty was unconstitutional as it was not signed as per the constitutional scheme and hence should be declared “void ab initio”.

“Keep politics aside. The matter will come in due course,” the bench of judges said when the advocate insisted on an urgent hearing in the court.