Call grows to revive Assam-Nagaland border case

Senior journalist Apurba Ballav Goswami has called on the Assam government to actively pursue the long-pending Supreme Court case on the Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute, arguing that an early resolution is vital for lasting peace in the border areas.

In a Facebook post, Goswami noted that the interstate boundary case has remained pending before the Supreme Court for nearly four decades despite the completion of field investigations and the submission of reports by court-appointed commissions.  

The dispute reached the Supreme Court in 1988 after the Assam government challenged Nagaland's decision to establish an administrative subdivision in territory claimed by Assam. To assist in resolving the dispute, the apex court constituted commissions in 2006 and again in 2011 to conduct field inspections and examine competing territorial claims.

According to Goswami, although both commissions submitted their reports years ago, the matter remains unresolved. He urged the Assam government to file an application seeking an early hearing and final disposal of the case in the interest of people living along the disputed border.

Recalling the 2011 field visit by a Supreme Court-appointed commission, Goswami said he had covered the inspection in the disputed "A Sector". During the visit, the commission reportedly witnessed Naga settlements, churches, schools and other infrastructure in areas claimed by Assam, while local residents attempted to establish their claim over the territory.

He also alleged that despite the status quo arrangement and the pendency of the case before the Supreme Court, permanent structures and development activities have continued in disputed areas over the years.

The Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute remains one of the oldest unresolved interstate border issues in the Northeast. Although both states have held several rounds of talks and constituted regional committees, the core territorial dispute is yet to be settled.

Border tensions have continued to flare up periodically in recent years. In Mariani, villagers have repeatedly reported alleged encroachments and disputes over agricultural land. Similar tensions have surfaced in Merapani, where clashes between residents and security forces have occurred over the years, while Uriamghat has witnessed recurring disputes over land, cultivation and movement in border villages. These incidents have often required the deployment of police and security personnel from both states to prevent escalation.

Observers say a final verdict from the Supreme Court would provide legal clarity, strengthen administrative certainty and help prevent recurring conflicts that continue to affect thousands of people living along the Assam-Nagaland border.