Settle inter-state disputes by mediation: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court (SC) has suggested mediation, not adjudication, as the way to settle disputes between neighbouring states.

It has referred a 22-year-old conflict between Assam, Arunachal and Nagaland for mediation, saying “adjudication” isn’t the answer to the problem.

A bench of justices Markandey Katju and TS Thakur appointed senior lawyers Sriram Panchu of Chennai and Niranjan Bhatt of Gujarat as mediators. They would meet the chief secretaries of the states in Delhi on September 18.

“It is not possible to adjudicate such issues. This matter is pending since 1988 and would go on for the next 25 years when you and I won’t be around,” the judges told the counsel for the states.

Recently, Maharashtra filed a fresh suit against Karnataka claiming over 800 Marathi-speaking villages that were handed over to the neighbour by the Centre under a parliament law.