India, Feb. 2 -- The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for the constitution of an inter-state water tribunal to adjudicate the long-pending Pennaiyar river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, holding that there was no legal impediment to the Union government taking recourse to the statutory mechanism under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

"We do not find any impediment in the Union government constituting a water tribunal for resolving the impugned dispute. The complaint by the State of Tamil Nadu be placed before the water tribunal to be constituted by the Central Government. Accordingly, the suit is disposed of," Justice Nath said, heading the bench that also comprised Justice NV Anjaria.

The ruling br...