Maharashtra must file a reply in six weeks to an application filed by Karnataka on the controversial border dispute between the two neighbouring states, which is pending a final judgement for 50 years, according to a Supreme Court order on Tuesday.  After Additional Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran appeared for Maharashtra and sought more time, a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan gave the order. Morever, Karnataka  counsel Sanjay Hegde submitted that Maharashtra has not filed any comprehensive reply to the affidavit filed by the state.

Amended complaint

In the amended complaint filed in 2004, Maharashtra claimed its jurisdiction over 814 villages in Belgaum, Karwar, Bidar and Gulbarga districts, which are reportedly Marathi-speaking areas. “The court may be pleased to declare that the provisions of Section 3 (1) of the Bombay Reorganisation Act, 1960, comprising Maharashtra without Marathi-speaking majority areas in the list be declared null and void,” the Maharashtra government had said.