New Delhi: The state of Odisha has cited the declaration of Privy Council dated March 1934, wherein Maharaja of Jeypore Estate was allowed to collect revenue from disputed villages, in the Supreme Court to press for its claim over the three villages in Kotia panchayat.
In the rejoinder affidavit, filed through advocate Sibashankar Mishra, Odisha submitted that prior to formation of Odisha, there was a dispute regarding the transfer of Zamindari and apportionment of Paishcush between Maharaja of Jeypore, Estate under Madras Presidency and Zamindar of Pachipenta. While deciding the dispute, Privy Council had given declaration in favour of Maharaja of Jeypore that he had a right to separate registration and apportionment of Paishcush in respect of the properties falling under disputed villages.
The state government submitted the revenue collection receipts of 1934 to support their claim over disputed villages. It also contended that the documents of 1937 and 1939 also indicate that the then Collector of Koraput was assigned to collect cess and Paishcush from the disputed Kotia group of villages.
“After the abolition of zamindari and Estates, the estate belonging to Jeypore and Pachipenta were vested in the territorial and administrative control of Odisha in 1952,” Odisha submitted the copy of notification dated 1952.
Odisha also annexed several letters exchanged between Chief Electoral Officers of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 1960s and letters exchanged during 70s and 80s between Chief Secretaries of both the states where Odisha had claimed its control over the disputed villages.
The state government also submitted Census reports of 2011, 2001 and 1991 and contended that the disputed villages had been mentioned in the Potangi taluk of Koraput district.
It is to be mentioned here that Odisha has filed a contempt petition against Andhra Pradesh in the apex court for holding panchayat elections in three villages of Koraput district.
PNN
