Remove illegal structures, restore pavements within 3 months: Telangana HC to GHMC

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to remove all illegal structures and restore pavements within three months.

The court came down heavily on rampant encroachments of footpaths in the city.

The court observed that tax-paying citizens are being forced to walk on roads due to blocked footpaths, exposing them to accidents, while civic authorities continue to assess and collect commercial taxes without addressing the illegal occupations.

Petition challenging demolition notice

The case arose after a woman, Indumathi, challenged a demolition notice issued by GHMC in connection with alleged illegal construction at Baghlingampally. The matter was heard by Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that she had been residing at the property since purchasing it from the Housing Board in 2010 and had been paying taxes after the property was converted from residential to commercial use.

Encroachment on Footpath

However, GHMC’s counsel submitted that while the petitioner had originally purchased 700 square yards, the property area had effectively expanded to 1,052 square yards after encroaching upon the adjoining footpath and constructing shops.

Upon examining photographs submitted by the petitioner, the judge noted that shops had indeed been built over the footpath in the area. The court also faulted GHMC officials for failing to notice the discrepancy during property tax assessment.

Court’s sharp observations

The court remarked that footpaths are a crucial public infrastructure facility and that authorities act against encroachments only when directed by courts or after media reports. Once the immediate drive ends, encroachments resurface due to a lack of sustained enforcement.

Ignoring court directions and allowing such violations cannot be considered good governance, the judge observed, stressing that illegal occupations must be treated as unlawful and dealt with strictly.

Petition dismissed; Three-Month Deadline

Refusing to interfere with GHMC’s notice, the High Court dismissed the petition and directed the civic body to proceed as per law in removing encroachments.

GHMC has been ordered to clear all footpath encroachments, restore pavements for public use, and submit a compliance report to the court registry within three months.