All the government departments are aware about this circular, an affidavit filed by the state government said in reply to a petition filed by three candidates seeking jobs in Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).
MSRTC had advertised for jobs recently but it did not mention any provision for residents of disputed areas of the two states. Three candidates coming from these areas had moved the Bombay High Court.
A bench of Justice A M Khanvilkar asked MSRTC to consider the cases of the three petitioners in keeping with the 2008 notification of the state government which allowed people from disputed areas bordering Maharashtra and Karnataka to seek government jobs.
The High Court is also hearing a PIL on the same issue. It has already issued notice to Maharashtra government and other respondents.
The disputed areas are located in Bidar, Belgaum and Karwar districts of Karnataka, and are claimed by Maharashtra.
In the PIL, petitioner Jay Chougale, an activist from Belgaum, contended that as per a 2008 circular of Maharashtra government, candidates from disputed villages in the border area would be eligible to apply for government jobs in Maharashtra.
But MSRTC's advertisement of August 7 this year required that applicants must be domiciled in Maharashtra. Chougale argued that MSRTC did not follow the 2008 policy.