Border row: Maharashtra govt to pay senior advocate 15 lakh per hearing in Supreme Court

MUMBAI: A fortnight after both Houses of the state legislature unanimously passed a resolution staking claim of villages on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border, the Shinde-Fadnavis government on Friday engaged senior advocate, C S Vaidyanathan, to present the state's case before the Supreme Court.
Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar had taken the view that since Karnataka has secured the services of former attorney general Mukul Rohtagi, it will be appropriate to engage senior advocate Harish Salve to appear for Maharashtra government. "We are yet to take a decision on hiring services of Salve. In the last meeting of all political parties, chief minister Eknath Shinde had assured that he will personally talk with Salve and will persuade him to appear for the state," a senior bureaucrat told TOI.
As per an official order issued by the general administration department, Vaidyanathan will be paid Rs 15 lakh per appearance in Supreme Court, Rs 15 lakh for conference outside New Delhi, Rs 2.5 lakh retainer fees per month, Rs 2 lakh for conference in New Delhi and 10% professional fees for clerkage. The fee structure will come into force from November 18, 2022. "The case was listed for November 23, however, it was adjourned following an application submitted by the Karnataka government," the senior bureaucrat said.
When the agitation on the Maharashtra-Karnataka gained momentum and there was large-scale violence, Union home minister Amit Shah had convened a high-level meeting to resolve the dispute. It was attended by Shinde, deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. Then it was agreed that both parties will maintain the status quo and will not indulge in violence.