Bill would recognize Orihuela Water Court as customary tribunal

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would amend Article 19 of the Organic Laworganic law A law on fundamental rights, statutes of autonomy, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso, 176 votes, in a final vote on the whole text. on the Judiciary to add a new paragraph recognizing the Juzgado Privativo de Aguas de Orihuela y Pueblos de su Marco as a customary and traditional tribunal, like the Tribunal de las Aguas de la Vega Valenciana and the Consejo de Hombres Buenos de Murcia already are.
2. The text explains that this court manages the distribution and use of water from the Segura river and its channels in the Vega Baja area, with administrative and judicial powers to settle irrigation disputes. It was created in the mid-13th century by King Alfonso X el Sabio.
3. The explanatory statement notes that the Tribunal de les Aigües de València and the Consejo de Hombres Buenos de Murcia were declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2009, while the Orihuela court was left out of that recognition despite, according to the text, being equally important.
4. Before this bill, the Provincial Council of Alacant and the Orihuela city council requested the recognition in 2013, and the Corts Valencianes unanimously approved a resolution on March 5, 2014 urging that the law be amended to recognize the court as a customary tribunal.

Who it affects

• The more than 1,500 irrigators of the Orihuela huerta, who use the court to resolve water and irrigation disputes.: The recognition would not change how the court works, but would give legal standing to a court they already use.
• The court's officials, such as the Juez Sobrecequiero and their assistants.: They would continue to run the court under its ordinances.
• Local councils and institutions of the Vega Baja area that had requested the recognition.: The bill responds to those requests.

Words worth knowing

Tribunal consuetudinario y tradicional (customary and traditional tribunal)

A court based on custom and tradition, in which citizens can take part in the administration of justice, under Article 125 of the Spanish Constitution.

Ley Orgánica (Organic Law)

A particularly important type of Spanish law, requiring a special majority in Congress, that governs key areas such as the judiciary.

Proposición de ley (bill)

A text that proposes a law but is not yet approved; it is still going through Parliament.

Exposición de motivos (explanatory statement)

The opening part of a legal text explaining why it is proposed and what it aims to achieve.

organic law

A law on fundamental rights, statutes of autonomy, the electoral system or other matters the Constitution reserves. It needs an absolute majority in the Congreso, 176 votes, in a final vote on the whole text.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries