Politicians not serious about border issues: Retired Justice Malimath

BELAGAVI: V S Malimath, new president of Karnataka Border Protection Commission (KBPC) retired chief justice of Karnataka and Kerala high courts, said around one-fourth area of the state border is under litigation but public representatives are not looking serious about the problem.
Addressing the press conference here on Wednesday, Malimath said public representatives don’t know how crucial these issues are.Besides, public in South-Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru don’t know much about border litigations. There is need of bringing issues to their knowledge. Meanwhile, Malimath urged media houses to give state level coverage to border related issues instead just publishing it on regional levels.
“We can’t ignore the Kannada dominant areas spread in other states, especially those which falls in to Karnataka according to Mahajan committee report. Our fight will be for implementing Mahajan committee report”, Malimath said. Meanwhile, he said there is no need of providing any evidences to claim the areas as told by supreme court. Our stand is firm that supreme court has no powers to decide borders of the states, which is prerogative of the parliament. “We already filed petition questioning the SC powers in deciding borders”, he said.
Member of KBPC KN Bengeri, said around 4,078 sq miles border area of the state is under litigation. Chikkodi, Hukkeri, Belagavi and Khanapur taluks in Belagavi district, Supa, Halyal and Karwar taluks in Karwar district, Bidar, Bhalki and Aurad taluks in Bidar district and eight villages in Aland taluk of Kalburgi district in Karnataka border are under litigation.
Karnataka has claimed 65 villages in South Solapur district in Maharashtra, 102 villages from Akkalkot taluk, 45 villages in Jat taluk and each eight villages from Shirol and Gadhinglaj taluks of Maharashtra. State has also claimed 71 villages from Kasargod district of Kerala, he said.
Other members of KBPC- Jinadatta Desai, additional law secretary Devendran, special legal advisor in supreme court advocate MB Zirali ware present.