Telangana HC questions GHMC over approvals, later demolition drives

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court questioned the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) over its contradictory approach of granting building permissions and regularising layouts, while subsequently seeking the demolition of alleged illegal constructions.

Hearing petitions filed by Narasimha Reddy and others alleging illegal demolitions by HYDRAA in plots belonging to the Defence Housing Cooperative Society Ltd. in Malkajgiri, Ranga Reddy district, Justice G.M. Mohiuddin questioned why GHMC was approaching the Revenue Department and HYDRAA to protect open spaces in layouts for which it had itself granted approvals.

The Court also questioned HYDRAA as to how it could proceed with demolitions without communicating its decision after the petitioners had submitted explanations to the notices alleging unauthorised constructions.

In a separate petition filed by the society, the Court also examined the alleged construction of a GHMC dumping yard and parking of garbage transportation vehicles on 6,039 square yards of land forming part of the society’s 112-acre property.

Directing GHMC and HYDRAA to file detailed counter-affidavits explaining the demolitions, dumping yard construction and vehicle parking, the Court observed that it was granting them a final opportunity and adjourned the matter for three weeks.