Odisha sues Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh over rural survey notification in Kotia region

Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari. Photo credit: X@sureshkpujari

The Odisha government has filed a contempt of court case in the Supreme Court against the Andhra Pradesh government, challenging its notification to hold panchayat elections in the disputed Kotia region of Koraput district in the state.

Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said the petition was filed through the Koraput District Collector after the Andhra Pradesh government issued a notification on October 10 to conduct Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections in the Kotia cluster of villages in Odisha.

“We have filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court after getting approval from Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi,” Mr. Pujari told reporters, adding that the two states were to maintain the status quo as per the Supreme Court’s 2006 order.

While all the 28 villages under Kotia Gram Panchayat remain in Odisha territory, Andhra Pradesh claims its rights to 21 villages. Odisha challenged this in the Supreme Court in 1968 and the court asked both states to maintain the status quo in 2006.

However, Mr. Pujari said that Andhra Pradesh had violated the Supreme Court order by announcing panchayat elections there. He said contempt proceedings have been filed against the Andhra Pradesh government, making the state election commissioner, chief secretary, collector of the concerned district and other officers involved in election management parties to the matter.

“We will also pray to the Supreme Court to direct the Andhra Pradesh government to refrain from such illegal activities in future,” the minister said.

There was also tension between the two states in 2021 when Andhra Pradesh held panchayat polls in the disputed region, prompting Odisha to file a contempt petition in 2022.

Now, the Andhra Pradesh administration has re-announced local polls in the disputed villages of Phagunasineri, Ganjeipadar and Phatusineri, the official said.

Mr. Pujari said Kotia was an integral part of Odisha and the state was taking legal and administrative steps to enforce her rights.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 07:34 IST