HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad HC on Tuesday directed Telangana government and other authorities to file counter affidavits explaining the facts and circumstances of the alleged illegal constructions by a private builder on government land at Devathalagutta in Balapur in the city.
The bench of ACJ Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akther was dealing with a PIL case filed by Devathala Gutta Parirakshana Samithi, represented by its vice-president N Ramreddy, challenging the inaction of authorities in preventing the private parties from making constructions in the government land of about 150 acres.
Petitioner’s counsel PSP Suresh Kumar submitted that respondent Pride India Builders Limited, a real estate company, has been constructing villas by demolishing temples and other structures in the 150 acres of government land.
Though the petitioner had made several complaints to authorities concerned, there was no response from them on alleged constructions by the said builder, he pointed out.
HMDA counsel Rama Rao admitted that the petitioner’s allegations are true and said that the private persons are taking up construction activity with the help of status-quo orders of the HC issued in past.
Wondered at taking up construction activity despite status-quo order, bench pointed out that it was the duty of HMDA to protect government land. It would not be proper for HMDA to express its helplessness, bench remarked.
When the bench questioned HMDA counsel why issue of construction activity was not brought to the notice of court by placing photographs concerned before it, the counsel sought some time to place all the details in form of counter affidavit before the court.
While posting the matter to next Tuesday, bench directed the respondent authorities to file their counter affidavits. It also directed the petitioner to issue personal notice to the Prime India Builders.