Chandigarh, Aug. 9 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday deferred hearing on a plea by the Punjab government seeking quashing of Bhakra Beas Management Board's 'illegal' move to allocate additional water to Haryana.

The high court bench of chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sanjiv Berry posted the matter for hearing on August 21 while allowing the petitioner state to implead Haryana as a party to the dispute, which was not done in the petition.

At the heart of the controversy are April 23 and April 28, BBMB decisions allowing the release of 8,500 cusecs (4,500 cusecs additional) of water to Haryana despite opposition from Punjab.

The Punjab government refused to accept the decision and deployed police at Nangal dam, 13km dow...