New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) Amid the ongoing stir to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh for creating a separate state of Telangana, the Supreme Court has reiterated that the state capital Hyderabad would continue to be a 'free zone' entitling people from other parts of the state to compete for government jobs.

A bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Mukundakam Sharma reiterated the court's old stand while dismissing a lawsuit by the Andhra Pradesh government seeking review of its October 9, 2009, ruling.

In its October 2009 ruling, the apex court held that Hyderabad was a 'free zone' and does not preclude others from competing and working under certain government jobs, including the city's police wing.

'We have perused the review petitions and record of the civil appeals, and are convinced that the judgment for which review has been sought does not suffer from any error apparent warranting its reconsideration. Hence, the review petitions are dismissed,' the apex court said in a terse order.

The judgment on the state government's review petition was pronounced early this week but delivered Wednesday.

The apex court had earlier ruled that people from all parts of the state have equal rights in government jobs, postings and promotions as the Presidential Order 1975 had explicitly excluded certain posts, including those recruited under the Hyderabad City Police Act, from any restriction in matters of appointments and postings.

The apex court's judgment assumes significance as the supporters of a separate Telangana state want Hyderabad to be a part of it. However, those favouring a unified state want the city to be a union territory.