Karnataka - Belgaum   

Panel chief says Maharashtra delaying case

Belgaum: Not Karnataka but Maharashtra is responsible for the delay in framing issues by the Supreme Court vis-à-vis original suit filed by Maharashtra on what has come to be known as “boundary dispute” between the two neighbouring States, said M. Ramakrishna, Chairman, Special Legal Advisory Committee on Karnataka-Maharashtra boundary dispute, here on Friday.

He was here in connection with certain complaints from the city-based government Urdu-medium schools forwarded to the committee by Karnataka State Minority Commission.

Responding to questions during a press conference, he said Parliament could not accord its approval as the former union minister late Shankarrao Chavan presented the report before the Lok Sabha only a day before the session came to end. Thus, the Lok Sabha could not debate on the report. However, he did not elaborate on the matter but remarked “that is how the Maharashtra lobby worked”. He said Karnataka had submitted a comprehensive defence by way of objections to the questions and complaints made by Maharashtra in its original suit before the Supreme Court.

The delay was because of the Centre taking long time to submit its affidavit in the matter.

Also, Maharashtra filed IAs (Interlocutory Applications) seeking amendments on certain points to which Karnataka had strongly objected.

However, the Supreme Court would call for evidences only after the issues were framed.

“But, we do not know what stand the Government of India will take in this regard.” Certainly, Karnataka was not responsible for the delay as the Government had to pay Rs.1.50 lakh a day to its advocate pursuing the case in Supreme Court.

He reiterated that Maharashtra had maintained that Belgaum should have been part of the State.

Asked whether the committee had come across complaints of injustice, negligence and harassment from Kannada-speaking linguistic minority residing in Maharashtra, Mr. Ramakrishna quoted BJP leader and MP Prabhkar B. Kore M.P. as saying that the number of Kannada-medium schools had come down from 49 to just four in boundary areas of Maharashtra.

The committee was considering eliciting factual report on all such matters and might explore taking the RTI.

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Panel chief says Maharashtra delaying case

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