Hill Fort Palace conservation: TS HC summons senior IAS officers, asks them to submit comprehensive report
They have been asked to furnish a comprehensive report on the steps taken by the state government for the restoration and conservation of the Hill Fort Palace.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 23 Nov 2022 8:25 AM IST
Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has summoned top IAS officers for not complying with the orders about the restoration and conservation of the Hill Fort Palace at Naubat Pahad in Hyderabad.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy summoned Commissioner & Secretary, Finance Department; Commissioner and Secretary, Tourism Department; Managing Director, Telangana State Travel and Tourism Development Corporation; Commissioner GHMC; and Commissioner and Vice Chairman, HMDA. They have been asked to furnish a comprehensive report on the steps taken by the state government for the restoration and conservation of the Hill Fort Palace. Except for the Finance Secretary, all the officers and two archaeologists appeared before the Court on Tuesday.
The Court was hearing the Public Interest Litigation filed by Hyderabad Heritage Trust. The petitioner had sought direction from the state government to take up restoration and conservation of the heritage structure Hill Fort. The petitioner said neither the state government is taking up the restoration work of the Hill Fort nor it is permitting the petitioner to take up such work. In the interregnum, the Hill Fort, which is a heritage structure, has been damaged.
Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan expressed serious concern over the action of the officials. The officials could not apprise the Court of the steps taken by them for the restoration and conservation of the Hill Fort despite numerous orders.
"Kindly inform this Court as to when you will commence the actual workā¦ Give us the timeline," the CJ said. The Court asked the Tourism Department Secretary if he could send a requisition seeking sanction of Rs. 50 crore for taking up conservation work of Hill Fort in a phased manner.
Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad sought a short adjournment and assured the Court that he will discuss with the officers and chalk out a work schedule including sanction of money from the government, and submit a detailed affidavit.
The Court adjourned the matter to December 9 with the direction that the officers should be present on that day.
