Agreeing to examine the validity of a controversial Punjab law annulling its water agreements with neighbouring states, the Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the Union government and the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi.

The notices were issued by a five-judge Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti, Justice N Santosh Hegde, Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice Ruma Pal and Justice S N Variava on a Presidential Reference on the matter.

The court directed the chief secretaries of the states and the Union government to file their written submissions within six weeks.

Attorney General Milon Banerjee requested the court to issue a public notice in the matter as was done in the Presidential Reference pertaining to the Ayodhya controversy. The request was turned down.