HYDERABAD: The High Court has pulled up the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for not checking illegal constructions and directed the GHMC commissioner to initiate disciplinary action against the erring official.
It has also imposed costs of Rs 5,000 on the deputy commissioner concerned for dereliction of duty. Justice MS Ramachandra Rao was allowing a petition by Paladi Devender, challenging failure of the authorities to prevent his neighbour from constructing a second floor and a pent house without permission.
Devender said the GHMC had given permission to his neighbour K Narasimha Rao only to construct ground plus first floor, but he constructed a two-floor building and a pent house.
Narasimha Rao contended that he had constructed his building as per the sanctioned plan and since his plot was in a prime location, he is entitled to bigger setbacks and so he had built shops on the ground floor and got assessment as “commercial” by paying the necessary fees, charges and penalty.
Even though the construction had been completed three years ago, the petitioner never filed a suit seeking injunction, and he had already moved a civil court against the authorities and also made an application for regularisation of his building. The judge found the allegations of the petitioner valid and his neighbour had not placed any material to prove that he had applied for regularisation of the building.
The judge held that the deputy commissioner failed to prevent the constructions in deviation of the sanctioned plan and converting a residential portion into commercial shops. The judge directed the authorities to initiate action to demolish unauthorised constructions and the GHMC commissioner shall consider initiating disciplinary action against the deputy commissioner.
Narasimha Reddy for Patna CJ
HC senior judge justice L Narasimha Reddy is likely to be elevated as chief justice of the Patna High Court. He has been serving as High Court judge for 14 years. Rekha Manharlal Doshit, chief justice of Patna HC, will retire on December 13 and the President is likely to issue warrant of appointment for Justice Narasimha Reddy soon afterwards.