Bhubaneswar, Mar 21: Odisha government has submitted counter affidavit in the Supreme Court on Kotia border dispute on Saturday.  

The counsels for Odisha have filed a 500 page affidavit annexing 31 relevant documents to the apex court to prove ‘Kotia group of villages’ as an indispensible part of Odisha.   

The affidavit read, Andhra had signed an agreement in 2006 to honour the statuesque order passed by the Supreme Court. However, illegal intrusion and administrative interference of Andhra are deliberate breach of this order. 

In addition, Court of Contempt Act- 1971 manifests that ‘Disobey of any agreement or undertaking submitted to the court as evidence is considered as Contempt to the Court.’ 

Thus, Andhra’s act of trespassing into the Odisha’s periphery and conducting panchayat level election is too illegal. 

Similarly, the affidavit filed by Andhra Pradesh on February 19, 2021 claiming statutory rights on Kotia is also illogical. 

The census report, voter’s list and the massive record of welfare works those are enclosed with the affidavit are strong evidences in favour of Odisha’s administrative authority on Kotia villages.