Pay Rs 25,000 fine; handover land to ex-serviceman within 4-weeks: Telangana HC to CS

Telangana High Court also directed the Chief Secretary to give possession of the land under Survey No. 118 of Yenkepally village to the ex-serviceman within two weeks along with the fine.

Failing this, the Chief Secretary has to appear before the court, duly furnishing the reasons for not implementing its orders. Kumar also holds the charge of Chief Commissioner of Land Administration and Revenue Secretary.

A division bench of Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy was hearing the case of Reddy who was allotted four acres of land under the ex-serviceman quota by united Andhra Pradesh State government.

Reddy moved the High Court stating that the local revenue authorities declined to hand over the possession of land stating that he did not cultivate for three years. The ex-serviceman contended that the authorities actually never handed over possession of the land to him.

Though Reddy was granted a pattadar passbook and the title deed in 2010 itself, possession of the land was denied to him on the ground that he did cultivate it within three years from the date of allocation. The state, instead of implementing the orders of the High Court, preferred to appeal in 2020.