Belagavi, 1 July

In response to the call from Kannada organisations in north Karnataka, the State government has reappointed Law Minister HK Patil as the in-charge minister to oversee border and river disputes. This decision comes after Maharashtra reorganised its high-power committee to supervise its ongoing territorial claims against Karnataka.

Kannada organisations in Belagavi had urged the government to appoint a dedicated minister for this pressing issue, nominating HK Patil due to his extensive knowledge and experience. Patil previously served as the in-charge minister for border districts from 2013 to 2018, a position that has remained vacant since.

Maharashtra’s newly reconstituted 18-member high-power committee, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, includes prominent political figures, such as NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. Maharashtra claims rights over 864 villages and towns, including Belagavi, Karwar, and Bidar. The state filed a suit in the Supreme Court in 2004, naming the union government and the State as respondents. This matter, however, has yet to be addressed, with arguments suggesting that such disputes fall under the jurisdiction of the union government, not the courts. The Supreme Court is expected to take up the case after its annual vacation concludes on 13 July.