Inter-State Border Dispute in North-Eastern States

There are some border disputes between the States of Assam-Nagaland and Assam-Meghalaya. Tensions occasionally develop along the inter-state border, which sometimes flare up into the incidents of violence. As per the report, in the current year, seven incidents of violence took place along Assam-Nagaland border on local issues, resulting in loss of twelve lives. Besides, due to violence which took place in August, 2014, people took refuge in the relief camps set up by the State Government. The two State Governments took immediate necessary action to prevent further recurrence of such incidents. Necessary compensation to the families of the victims and relief were provided who took refuge in the relief camps. In so far as Assam-Meghalaya border is concerned, no such incident of violence is reported in the recent past. The Government of Assam had filed Original Suit No. 2/88 in the Supreme Court of India for demarcation of boundaries between the states of Assam-Nagaland. The Supreme Court vide its judgment and order dated 25.9.2006 has appointed a Local Commission for identification of boundaries of the States of Assam-Nagaland. The Local Commission is continuing its hearing. While hearing an application filed by Government of Nagaland in Original Suit No. 2/88, the Supreme Court vide its order dated 20.8.2010, inter alia, directed that apart from continuation of the Local Commission, possibility to resolve the issue through mediation may also be explored and for this purpose appointed two Co-mediators. Mediators have submitted their report to the Supreme Court of India. In so far as boundary dispute between Assam and Meghalaya is concerned, the Central Government has advised both the State Governments to settle the dispute amicably. The approach of the Central Government has consistently been that inter-State boundary disputes can be resolved only with the willing cooperation of the State Governments concerned and that the Central Government works only as a facilitator for amicable settlement of the dispute in a spirit of mutual accommodation and understanding. This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to Shri Santiuse Kujur in the Rajya Sabha today.