Concept:The Inter‑State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 gives the Chief Justice of India the sole authority to nominate the Chairman and two members of the Tribunal.
Explanation:Section 4(2) of the ISRWD Act, 1956 states that the Tribunal must have a Chairman and two other members.
Only the Chief Justice of India can nominate these three members.
The nominees must be sitting judges of the Supreme Court or a High Court at the time of nomination.
The Central Government only forms the opinion that a dispute cannot be settled by negotiation and notifies the Tribunal in the Official Gazette.
The Central Government does not have the power to select or nominate the judicial members.
This process ensures judicial independence and impartiality because the disputes involve sovereign claims of different states.
Article 262 of the Constitution supports this mechanism and bars other courts from interfering in such disputes.
The Tribunal’s award, once published by the Central Government, has the same force as a Supreme Court decree.
Answer:Option D – Chief Justice of India