Set up boundary panel in three weeks: SC to Govt

It was suggested that the Surveyor General of India and some Army officers be made part of the panel.

The Supreme Court has given three weeks to the Centre to set up a boundary commission to resolve the border dispute between Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

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A division bench headed by Chief Justice YK Sabharwal gave the time after Attorney General Milon K Banerjee submitted that he needed to consult the government and take instructions on the setting up of the commission.

The court is hearing civil suits filed by Assam, seeking resolution of its boundary disputes with Nagaland and Arunanchal Pradesh.

Appearing for the state of Assam, senior counsel KK Venugopal submitted that boundary disputes cannot be settled in court and that there has to be a boundary commission to carry out demarcations on the ground.

He also suggested that the Surveyor General of India and some Army officers be made part of the proposed boundary commission.

The Nagaland Government Counsel, however, suggested there should be a political solution to the problem.