Context:

A book published by the state government of Maharashtra, titled ‘MaharashtraKarnataka Seemavad: Sangharsh Aani Sankalp’ (Maharashtra-Karnataka Boundary Dispute: Struggle and Pledge) is a collection of articles, news, and other material on the demand that Marathi-speaking areas in Karnataka should be integrated into Maharashtra.

Background:

• The dispute began when the erstwhile Bombay Presidency had present-day Karnataka districts of Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad, and Uttara-Kannada.
• In 1948, the Belgaum municipality requested that the district be incorporated into the proposed Maharashtra state.
• But with the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, Belgaum and 10 talukas of Bombay State became a part of the then Mysore State.
• This happened because states were divided based on linguistic and administrative lines.

The present situation

• In 2004, the Maharashtra government moved the Supreme Court seeking resolution of the border dispute under Article 131(b) of the Constitution.
  • This case is sub judice.
• The Karnataka government has made moves emphasizing its territory over Belgaum by holding its winter session in Belgaum annually, after constructing Suvarna Vidhana Soudha.
• It also formally changed the name of Belgaum to Belagavi in 2014.

Major inter-state boundary disputes in India

• Assam – Nagaland
• Boundary: 434 kilometer
• Area of dispute: Assam districts of Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat.
• Commissions: Sundaram Commission in 1971 and Shastri Commission in 1985
• Gujarat – Rajasthan
• Area of dispute: Mangadh Hill, located on the border of the two states. Gujarat claims half of the hill, while Rajasthan claims the entire hill is theirs.
• Karnataka- Kerala 
• Area of dispute: district of Kasaragod
• Committee: headed by Supreme Court, Justice M. Mahajan (1967)
• Orissa – West Bengal 
• Area of dispute: 82 villages under Jaleswar and Bhograi blocks in Balasore district
• Assam – Meghalaya
• Area of dispute: few blocks of Mikir Hills
• Others 
• Bihar and UP: The inter-state boundary between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continued to fluctuate due to the frequent change in the course of rivers.
• Haryana and UP: Likewise, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh’s fluctuating boundary was sought to be solved in the 1970s. But issues are still not resolved.
• Haryana and Punjab: Punjab and Haryana are locked over the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, and part of the Fazilka sub-district of Punjab to Haryana.
• Orissa and Andhra Pradesh: Between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, the boundary dispute relates to 63 villages falling presently in Orissa. But neither government has asked for Central intervention.
• Orissa and Jharkhand: Similarly, Orissa and Jharkhand have a boundary dispute relating to seven villages of the Mayurbhang and Keonjhar districts. Orissa has claimed territories in the former princely states of Seraikela and Kharsuan, now in Jharkhand.
• Orissa and Chhattisgarh: Orissa has locked with Chhattisgarh over three villages of Naupada district. Orissa and West Bengal are also stalemated over five villages of the Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts of Orissa.
• Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand: Himachal Pradesh is contesting Uttarakhand over six places of Dehradun district, adjoining its Shimla district.
• Arunachal Pradesh and Assam: Arunachal Pradesh claims territory in Assam based on history.
• Meghalaya and Assam: Assam and Meghalaya don’t have a major boundary dispute.

• Article 131

• Article 131 of the Constitution of India vests the Supreme Court with original jurisdiction over any dispute arising between the states or between the center and state.
• SC has original jurisdiction in any dispute:
  • Between the Government of India and one or more States
  • Between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more other States on the other; or
  • Between two or more States
• if the dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact) on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.