KATHMANDU, Jan 2: The Supreme Court has sought the original map of Nepal exchanged with India during the signing of the Sugauli Treaty in 1816 that defines the border between Nepal and India.

A single bench of Justice Hari Prasad Phuyal demanded the map from the government in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by senior advocate Bishwa Prakash Bhandari demanding Supreme Court’s intervention to secure the Nepali territory. The petitioner has asked the court to order the government to start political and diplomatic efforts to protect Nepali territories. A map published by India in November shows Kalapani and other Nepali territories inside the Indian border. 

Although the order was issued on Monday, the text of the order was issued only on Wednesday.

The bench also asked the authorities to furnish other official maps either exchanged with various countries or with the international organizations including the United Nations while applying for obtaining their membership.

The bench directed the government and the Department of Survey to submit the original map of Nepal in order to settle the encroachment issue involving India of Limpiyadhura and Kali River of Darchula District of western Nepal. The authorities have been asked to submit their reply within fifteen days.

The apex court asked the government to submit the Sugauli Treaty, which was signed with the then East India Company, and various other maps that were submitted by Nepal to various international organizations or regional organizations while obtaining their membership. The government has also been directed to submit the original map exchanged while signing a Boundary Treaty with the Indian government in 1960, the map published by the East-India Company on February 1, 1827, and a separate map published by the British Government in 1847.

The Supreme Court has also asked the government to submit details of efforts made, if any, for amending the map of Nepal.

The bench stated that the hearings on the PIL will be conducted in tandem with another similar petition filed by advocate Kanchan Krishna Neupane.

 
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