SC hearing on April 9: To decide the fate of Kotia

Bhubaneswar, Mar 22: The contempt petition filed on behalf of Odisha over Kotia border dispute is scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court on April 9. This date may be a red letter day for Odisha as the apex court may decide the fate of Kotia 'group of villages' on this day analyzing the evidences put forth by both the sides. The apex court has posted the case for hearing after Odisha government submitted the counter affidavit in the court on Saturday last month, The Supreme Court had granted Odisha a four-week time to submit counter reply on Andhra’s affidavit with legal evidences showing the territorial authority of Odisha over Kotia. Accordingly, a panel of advocates engaged by the Odisha Government has filed the 500 page counter affidavit enclosing important papers including the current census report, voter lists and the database of various developmental projects taken up by Odisha government around the disputed area. On the contrary, the Vizianagaram district collector M Hari Jawaharlal asserted through his affidavit that Kotia belongs to Andhra Pradesh, responding to the Apex court notice. Andhra Pradesh has provoked dispute over ‘Kotia group of villages’ in the bordering district of Koraput causing administrative disturbances since 2006. Revenue Department of Odisha filed a petition against Andhra Pradesh claiming breach of status-quo order of the Supreme Court. In addition, Odisha projected the Gram-Panchayat election of Andhra Pradesh in its territory as contempt of court.