Bangalore: Karnataka on November 8 asserted that the boundary dispute with Maharashtra was a closed chapter and the recommendations of the Mahajan Commission were "final".

Reacting to Maharashtra's moves to take the border dispute to Supreme Court for adjudication, Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge emphatically declared, "as far as Karnataka is concerned Mahajan report is final".

"It is not an appropriate time for Maharashtra to take up this issue," he told reporters, adding Karnataka would do everything to safeguard the state's interest on the matter.

Kharge said there was no change in the stand of the state that the Mahajan commission report should be implemented in-toto over which both Houses of state legislature have passed unanimous resolution.

He sought to remind Maharashtra leaders that the Centre set up the one-man commission headed by Mahajan to adjudicate the boundary dispute after both the states consented.

At that time, Kharge said, Maharashtra agreed to abide by whatever recommendation the commission gave.

On being pointed out that though both states had Congress governments, Maharashtra was taking the matter to the Supreme Court, Kharge said, "everybody has got right to approach Supreme Court either on water or border dispute."

He said the state was unaware of the grounds on which Maharashtra would approach the apex court on the issue and react later.

PTI