Kotia row: Odisha moves SC against Andhra over border dispute

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has moved the Supreme Court against the Andhra Pradesh (AP) government over the Kotia border dispute.

Mentioning in its petition that the apex court in 1968 had ordered to maintain status quo in the disputed area of Kotia, Odisha sought contempt of court proceedings against Andhra Pradesh.

The Odisha government has also prayed before the Supreme Court for speedy hearing in the matter.

The government had earlier written to Supreme Court’s Advocate on Record  (AOR) Sibo Sankar Mishra directing him to file a writ petition in the apex court challenging Andhra Pradesh’s notification for holding of panchayat elections in three villages of Kotia in Koraput district.

Notably, the border dispute between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh emerged as the latter included Talaganjeipadar, Phatuseneri and Phagunaseneri villages under its Salur block and announced panchayat polls in the three villages.

It is for the first time that elections to the panchayat bodies have been announced in the block by Andhra Pradesh.