Odisha's contempt petition in Supreme Court over Kotia panchayat election

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The Odisha government filed a contempt of court petition against the Andhra Pradesh government in the Supreme Court challenging the notification for the forthcoming election in Kotia

The story so far: The Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission issued a notification on October 19, 2026, for elections to the Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), scheduled for November 3.

The decision to hold the elections in the Kotia group of villages, whose jurisdiction has been disputed by Andhra Pradesh and Odisha since Independence, triggered protests across the political spectrum in Odisha.

Oppn. accuses BJP govt. in Odisha of 'silence' on disputed region with A.P. Oppn. accuses BJP govt. in Odisha of 'silence' on disputed region with A.P. The decades-old dispute involves both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh claiming their right over 21 of the 28 villages of Kotia Gram Panchayat Oppn. accuses BJP govt. in Odisha of 'silence' on disputed region with A.P. storyline 1

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Andhra Pradesh of undermining Odisha's territorial integrity. The Odisha government said on October 23, 2026, that it had filed a contempt of court petition against the Andhra Pradesh government in the Supreme Court challenging the notification for the forthcoming election in Kotia.

Odisha moves Supreme Court against Andhra Pradesh over rural poll notice in Kotia area storyline 1 Why Kotia is disputed?

As many as 21 villages in the Kotia group, under Pottangi Tahasil of Odisha's Koraput district, have been at the centre of a territorial dispute with Andhra Pradesh since 1955.

According to an Odisha government brief on the dispute, Odisha exercised administrative control over these villages from 1936. The dispute surfaced in 1955, two years after the formation of Andhra Province, when Andhra Pradesh officials attempted to collect land revenue from the villages. Odisha protested through its Chief Secretary, but Andhra Pradesh countered that it had been collecting revenue there since 1947 and that residents had participated in the State's 1954 elections.

Andhra Pradesh officials say Odisha blocking census collection in Kotia villages Andhra Pradesh officials say Odisha blocking census collection in Kotia villages Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhya Rani has asked Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to protect the people of the disputed Kotia villages, where Odisha officials have reportedly stopped Andhra Pradesh staff from collecting census data Andhra Pradesh officials say Odisha blocking census collection in Kotia villages storyline 1

In 1959, Andhra Pradesh cited a 1942 boundary demarcation by M. Gilby, Assistant Director of Survey, Madras Province, claiming it had been carried out with Odisha's consent. Odisha rejected the claim, arguing that Gilby had wrongly assumed his demarcation conformed to the Government of India (Constitution of Orissa) Order, 1936. Both States held general elections in the disputed area in 1967.

Amid the impasse, the then Union Home Minister convened a conciliatory meeting on September 12, 1968. It failed to resolve the dispute, with the Minister reportedly observing that Odisha's claim would be difficult to sustain in view of the acceptance of Gilby's report.

The legal recourse

Odisha moved the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution on November 14, 1968. Talks between the two Chief Ministers in 1978 also proved inconclusive.

Border row: Opposition urges government's intervention to ease tensions in Kotia Border row: Opposition urges government's intervention to ease tensions in Kotia Border row: Opposition urges government's intervention to ease tensions in Kotia storyline 1

On March 30, 2006, the Supreme Court disposed of the original suit, holding that it lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute because of the proviso to Article 131. It directed that the status quo should be maintained until the dispute was taken up by an appropriate authority in accordance with law. According to legal experts, issues under Article 131 of the Constitution are resolved only by Parliament. Odisha's review petition in 2006 and curative petition in 2007 were also dismissed, effectively closing the door to further judicial scrutiny through those proceedings.

The dispute resurfaced in 2021 when Andhra Pradesh, on February 13, 2021, notified a Gram Panchayat election in Phatusineri (Pattuchennuru), one of the Kotia villages. Odisha approached the Supreme Court with a contempt petition, alleging a violation of the status quo order. Andhra Pradesh subsequently notified elections to MPTC and ZPTC seats in Kotia, scheduled for April 8, 2021, prompting another contempt petition by Odisha seeking an injunction against the neighbouring State and its officials.

Caught between AP, Odisha: identity crisis for tribals of Kotia group of villages

Caught between AP, Odisha: identity crisis for tribals of Kotia group of villages

4,000 tribal people on hilltop hamlets are caught between A.P. and Odisha

Andhra vs Odisha: The territorial tussle between two States

Andhra vs Odisha: The territorial tussle between two States

In the disputed border village of Kotia, situated between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, residents have been navigating two governments for decades. Sumit Bhattacharjee speaks to the villagers, who have availed themselves of benefits from both sides

Strange case of 'dual citizenry' of a sleepy tribal region bordering AP, Odisha

Strange case of 'dual citizenry' of a sleepy tribal region bordering AP, Odisha

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have challenged each other's administrative control over Kotia group of villages for seven decades; the dispute has peaked in recent times.

The two Chief Ministers met again in 2021 amid renewed tensions, but the talks skirted the contentious jurisdictional issue and ended with a general assurance of cooperation.

In 2023, Odisha again approached the Supreme Court seeking adjudication of the Kotia dispute. In the latest proceedings, Odisha has filed its response to objections raised by Andhra Pradesh.

Present contempt petition

Fabi Rasheed, Koraput Sub-Collector, said the District Collector filed a fresh contempt petition in the Supreme Court, alleging Andhra Pradesh violated the 2006 status quo order.

The Odisha government is also taking up the issue with the Andhra Pradesh government.

Meanwhile, a BJD delegation visited Kotia and criticised the Mohan Charan Majhi government, alleging that the Kotia issue had been completely mishandled by the administration. A Congress delegation led by its state president, Bhakta Charan Das, is scheduled to visit Kotia on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

In order to win over the people of Kotia, both the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments are spending heavily. While the Odisha government is emphasising creating infrastructures such as opening educational institutes, laying roads and bridges and creating other government institutions, Andhra Pradesh is focusing on getting children of Kotia admitted in schools situated in its jurisdiction and distributing pensionary benefits.

Caught between AP, Odisha: identity crisis for tribals of Kotia group of villages Caught between AP, Odisha: identity crisis for tribals of Kotia group of villages 4,000 tribal people on hilltop hamlets are caught between A.P. and Odisha story Caught between AP, Odisha: identity crisis for tribals of Kotia group of villages Andhra vs Odisha: The territorial tussle between two States Andhra vs Odisha: The territorial tussle between two States In the disputed border village of Kotia, situated between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, residents have been navigating two governments for decades. Sumit Bhattacharjee speaks to the villagers, who have availed themselves of benefits from both sides Andhra vs Odisha: The territorial tussle between two States storyline 1 Strange case of 'dual citizenry' of a sleepy tribal region bordering AP, Odisha Strange case of 'dual citizenry' of a sleepy tribal region bordering AP, Odisha Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have challenged each other's administrative control over Kotia group of villages for seven decades; the dispute has peaked in recent times. Strange case of 'dual citizenry' of a sleepy tribal region bordering AP, Odisha storyline 1