Bhoodan lands: Telangana HC dismisses interim petitions of IAS officer Naveen Mittal, others

Hyderabad: Refusing to lift the stay on land transactions in Nagaram, Telangana High Court dismissed the interim petitions filed by IAS officer Naveen Mittal, IAS officer Vikas Raj’s daughter Aishwarya Raj, IPS officer Vishwaprasad’s son Varun, and EIPL Constructions Pvt. Ltd.

Passign the order, Telangana High Court reaffirmed that Bhoodan lands cannot be sold or registered.

Justice K. Lakshman delivered the verdict on Friday, dismissing a series of petitions filed by serving and retired bureaucrats, their family members, and private developers.

Top bureaucrats’ pleas rejected

The court dismissed the interim petitions filed by IAS officer Naveen Mittal, IAS officer Vikas Raj’s daughter Aishwarya Raj, IPS officer Vishwaprasad’s son Varun, and EIPL Constructions Pvt. Ltd.

These petitioners had urged the court to remove their lands from the prohibited list and vacate the stay imposed on April 24, which bars transactions over Bhoodan lands in Nagaram.

Justice Lakshman, however, ruled that there were no valid grounds to interfere with the earlier order, emphasizing that the nature of Bhoodan lands restricts private transactions by law.

Stay on Bhoodan Land transactions to continue

The High Court reaffirmed that no sale, registration, or transfer of Nagaram lands will be permitted as the properties fall under the Bhoodan category. These lands, donated for community welfare decades ago, cannot be converted or transferred to individuals.

The bench clarified that the restrictions remain in force until the completion of ongoing inquiries into the alleged irregularities.

CBI, ED probe demand sparks wider case

The current proceedings stem from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Birla Mallesh, who sought a CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into large-scale irregularities and illegal transactions involving influential individuals in Nagaram’s Bhoodan lands.

Acting on this plea, the High Court had earlier issued the interim stay on April 24, halting all registrations. Justice Lakshman also dismissed two additional petitions related to the same issue, including one by Mallesh seeking certified copies of land records such as pahanis, pattadar passbooks, and mutation proceedings.

The court advised them to obtain such documents through the CCLA and other concerned authorities, following the procedure.

Enquiry Commission's plea also turned down

Another petition filed by Vadya Ramulu, a Nagaram resident claiming ownership over 10.17 acres received through a gift deed from his father, was also dismissed.

Ramulu had urged the court to appoint an independent inquiry commission to examine all land dealings in Nagaram. Justice Lakshman rejected the request, stating that the matter already falls under judicial and administrative scrutiny.

Buyers made parties to the Case

While rejecting several pleas, the court allowed 28 implead petitions filed by individuals who had purchased lands in Nagaram and had obtained pattadar passbooks from revenue authorities.

Justice Lakshman recognized them as affected parties and directed that they be added as respondents in the ongoing case.

Officials under lens

The High Court observed that there are prima facie indications of wrongdoing involving certain senior officials. Justice Lakshman noted that allegations against A. Mohan Kumar, former Rangareddy District Collector, and other officers would need to be examined in detail as the case proceeds.

Verdict reinforces ban on Nagaram Land Deals

With Friday’s ruling, the High Court has upheld the April 24 stay order and refused to interfere in the matter until further investigation. The decision effectively keeps all land transactions in Nagaram village suspended, pending the outcome of the larger probe into the Bhoodan land irregularities involving top officials and private developers.