Following the ongoing Nepal-Indo border conflict regarding the county’s western territory, two writ petitions have been filed at the Supreme Court seeking the court to order the government to take necessary steps towards protecting encroached national areas. The updated official political map of India released on November 2 puts some Nepali territories — Kalapani, Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Susta within the Indian borders. Nepal has challenged this claim and has proposed to resolve the issue in a diplomatic manner.
While one petition was filed by advocate Kanchan Krishna Neupane, another was jointly filed by advocates Sujit KC and lecturer Phanindra Nepal on Wednesday. They have demanded the court issue a mandamus order through which the judiciary can direct the governmental bodies to perform their public duty as per the law.
The writs have mentioned the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the ministries of Defense, Home, and Land Reform and the Department of Survey as defendants in the petitions.
Furthermore, the advocates have demanded that the government issue a new political map of the country by including the disputed territories and take diplomatic, political and legal initiatives to iron out the matter. The petitions further state to seek international help of the UN by invoking international laws.
The petitioners argue that the recently released political map of India has undermined the sovereignty and integrity of Nepal as well as its citizens, thus requiring the government to stand against the move.
