Bhubaneswar: While Andhra Pradesh held panchayat elections in three villages in the disputed Kotia cluster on Saturday, the Odisha government directed Koraput Collector to prepare all relevant documents & arrange a video conference with the Advocate-on-Record to discuss the issue on February 17.
The video conference will be reportedly held before the next date of the hearing, that is scheduled by the Supreme Court on February 19.
Additional Secretary of Odisha’s Revenue & Disaster Management Department, Sailendra Dwivedi, in a letter to Koraput Collector, asked him to arrange all relevant documents pertaining to Ganjaipadar (Ganjaibadra), Phatusineri (Pattuchennuru) and Phagunasinery (Paguluchinnuru) under Kotia gram panchayat to prove beyond sustainable doubt that the State of Odisha has been continuously holding elections (Parliament Constituency, Assembly Constituency and Panchayat Elections) in these villages.
The Collector was further asked to arrange a Video Conference (VC) with the AoR on February 17 (Wednesday) at 5 PM to discuss the issue. The Principal Secretaries of the Revenue and Law Department, Additional Secretary of Revenue Department, Koraput Collector along with ADM Koraput will participate in the VC, the link of which may be shared in advance.
“The State Government desires that optimum efforts should be given in to defend the interest of the State. Since the next date of hearing by the Hon’ble Apex Court is fixed to 19.02.2021, you may proceed in advance with all relevant documents to contact the AoR,” stated the Additional Secretary.
Notably, the state government has moved the Supreme Court, which issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh government to file its response on a contempt petition filed by Odisha.
Odisha has sought action against the neighbouring state over its violation of the apex court order in 1968 and 2006.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on February 19.
Andhra Pradesh held Panchayat elections in three villages Talaganjeipadar, Patusineri and Phagunseneri in Kotia Gram Panchayat under Pottangi block. It has changed their names to Ganjeibadara, Pattuchennuru and Pagluchennuru.
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