‘Why serve notices on holidays?’ Telangana HC slams HYDRAA over demolition spree, order violation

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday expressed anger on HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath and Ameenpur mandal tahsildar in Sangareddy district for carrying out demolitions during the weekends and for the ad hoc demolition spree.

The court adjourned further hearing to October 15.

On September 27, Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court expressed strong displeasure over the actions of HYDRAA and the Ameenpur mandal tahsildar of demolishing a building allegedly without following due process of law.

Building owner challenged demolition

After the demolitions, the victim from Ganesh Constructions, represented by its proprietor N Venkata Reddy filed a writ petition and challenged the demolition of his building at Sri Krishna Nagar, Kistareddypet village of Ameenpur mandal. After hearing the arguments, the court directed the officials to appear before it and justify their actions.

On Monday, Ranganath and Ameenpur mandal Tahsildar appeared before the court to provide their explanation. During the arguments, the HC questioned the officials for working on Sunday.

“Why are you serving notices on holidays and demolishing the structures? How can the officials violate the previous orders of the court not to carry out demolitions on Sunday?” the HC questioned Ameenpur mandal Tahsildar. The Court also warned that the official would face necessary consequences if the official failed to act as per the law.

HC cautions over political motives

During the arguments, the court also asked the officials not to go ahead with the words of political leaders and higher officials illegally. “Did the officials give any chance to the public before carrying out the demolition exercise? How can you cause trouble to the common man to protect the government property?” the HC questioned the officials.

Ranganath informed the court that they had deployed machinery and personnel to carry out the demolition exercise. “Will you demolish Charminar, if asked to do so? The HC also came down heavily on the HYDRAA commissioner for the demolition spree.

Warnings over revoking GO 99

The agency could not provide any answers to questions like how many FTLs, the extent of lakes and the consequences of demolition. The court rapped the agency for carrying out ad hoc work and warned it to issue a stay order to revoke GO 99.

“What is the necessity for the officials to demolish the structures immediately if the public didn't vacate them? The officials should stop working at the behest of the political leaders and higher officials. Even if a person was sentenced to death, the court will ask him/her about their last wish,” the court said.

‘Why is HYDRAA not taking care of traffic?’

Meanwhile, as many as 20 lunch motion petitions were filed before the High Court on the demolitions to be taken out near Musi River catchment areas in Hyderabad.

“We have invited the officials considering the priorities of the case. The HYDRAA has many responsibilities apart from carrying out demolition. How can they violate the remaining responsibilities? The agency was also supposed to handle the traffic, but it is not bothering about it,” the court asked the officials.

Seizure before demolition

The court further said that a common man would construct his house only after getting registration from a sub-registrar. Due to a lack of communication between the officials, the common person is suffering due to the demolition spree by the HYDRAA. Instead of demolishing the unauthorised structures during the weekends, the officials should seize the property initially, the Court said.

“We welcome the constitution of the HYDRAA. But its work is objectionable including the functioning of the HYDRAA commissioner and Ameenpur mandal Tahsildar. It is not at all correct to expect a great transformation in Hyderabad in a single day. Without finalising the FTL, how are the officials considering it as an unauthorised structure? Until October 15, the HYDRAA and Ameenpur mandal Tahsildar should not carry out any demolitions,” the court said.

The officials have been asked to file a counter.