Kotia Row: SC Allows Odisha Four-Week Time To Reply On Andhra’s Affidavit

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Odisha government to respond to the affidavit filed by the Andhra Pradesh government on conducting panchayat polls in the disputed Kotia areas of Koraput district.

The court has reportedly granted the Odisha government four-week time to file its reply.

The Odisha government had approached the apex court of the country earlier this month after the neighbouring State issued notification to conduct elections in these disputed areas on February 13 and February 17.

Advocate Sibo Sankar Mishra had filed a petition, on behalf of Odisha government, seeking contempt of court proceedings against Andhra Pradesh government. It had requested the court for a speedy hearing of the case.

Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, Vizianagaram Collector, and officials of Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission were made parties in the case.

In his response over the matter, Vizianagaram district collector M Hari Jawaharlal filed an affidavit at the court yesterday stating that three villages namely Ganjeibadara, Patuchinauru and Faguchinauru come under Araku Lok Sabha and Salur Assembly constituencies of Andhra Pradesh.

Based on Jawaharlal’s affidavit, the Supreme Court directed the Odisha government to respond to the affidavit within four weeks.

It is to be noted here that the Andhra government had conducted the panchayat polls in these three villages in 2006 and 2013.  However, the Lok Sabha and State Assembly Elections are being conducted in these areas since 1952.