Kotia Panchayat Polls: SC Asks Odisha Govt To File Response To Andhra Affidavit

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Odisha government to file its response to the affidavit filed by the Andhra Pradesh government on conducting panchayat elections in Kotia of Koraput district.

The affidavit filed by Vizianagaram district collector M Hari Jawaharlal on February 18 stated that three villages – Ganjeibadara, Patuchinauru and Faguchinauru – come under Araku Lok Sabha and Salur Assembly constituencies. The Andhra government has conducted the panchayat polls in in these three villages in 2006 and 2013, it added.

The Andhra government filed the affidavit in response to a direction by the Supreme Court while hearing a contempt petition filed by the Odisha government on February 12.

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

On February 13, the Andhra Pradesh government conducted the panchayat elections in Kotia of Pottangi block in Koraput district despite the petition filed by the Odisha government in the Supreme Court.

Also Read: Kotia Polls Row: Andhra Pradesh Files Counter To Odisha Plea In Supreme Court