Odisha moves SC after Andhra Pradesh notifies panchayat polls in disputed Kotia villages

The Odisha government has moved the Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh’s decision to conduct panchayat elections in the disputed villages of the Kotia region, PTI reported on Saturday.

Both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have claimed jurisdiction over the 21 villages of Kotia district in Koratpur district along the inter-state border. In 1968, Odisha had challenged Andhra Pradesh’s claim in the Supreme Court.

The court had asked both states to maintain the status quo in 2006.

Tensions between the two states arose again in 2021, when Andhra Pradesh held panchayat polls in Kotia. Following this, Odisha filed a contempt petition in 2022.

On October 10, the Andhra Pradesh government issued a notification to conduct zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections in three of the villages – Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar, and Phatusineri.

Following this, Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that Andhra Pradesh had violated the Supreme Court order, reported PTI.

The petition in the Supreme Court was filed by the Koraput collector against Andhra Pradesh’s election commissioner, the collector concerned and other officials involved in the polling process, Pujari was quoted as saying by The Times of India.

“We will also pray to the Supreme Court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to refrain from such illegal activities in the future,” added the minister.

Andhra Pradesh is ruled by a...

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