Telangana HC seeks govt reply on PIL alleging non-implementation of Telangana Land Reforms Act

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday has asked the State government to respond to a PIL directing the government to implement the Telangana Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973.

The HC Division Bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, was hearing a PIL filed by Kanchari Brahmam, president of Singoor Jala Sadhana Committee, Alladurg, Medak District.

What was the petition about?

The PIL asked the court to take up suo moto cognisance of the issue about the ‘non-implementation of Telangana Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act, 1973 in the Telangana State and issue a direction to the Telangana Government to strictly enforce the act.’

The petitioner, in his letter, sought a direction to the Telangana Government to initiate strict legal action against all those officials who are found guilty of violating the said act and further to direct the State Government to take necessary corrective measures and restore the agricultural land.

Corporations are occupying agricultural land

The petitioner informed the Acting Chief Justice that several people, including the financially sound corporate companies, in sheer defiance of the act, continue to have huge tracts of agricultural land, beyond the prescribed ceiling limit, which the act strictly prohibits all persons, including the corporate companies.

Such unauthorised holding of these fertile lands leads to their misuse or underutilisation, preventing the rights of the farmers of their right, the petition said.

Redistribute land to farmers

“This huge possession of agricultural land by a handful of financially well-off persons contributes to an artificial increase in land prices, depriving farmers of purchasing the said land, thereby converting the farmer into a ‘daily wage labour’,” the petitioner said.

“This action of a couple of highly influential persons in the State is snatching away the livelihood from the farmers jeopardises the entire agricultural sector and the petitioner seeks a direction to the Telangana Government to implement the act, strictly by the law, restore the entire land, which has a handful of persons and redistribute them to the farmers,” it added.

The HC issued the notices to the chief secretary, principal secretary to the Government, revenue department, chief commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and the Secretary, Law Department, directing them to respond to the notices within four weeks.

The case has been adjourned for four weeks for filing counter-affidavits.