Encroachments: Telangana High Court grants time to State govt

Hyderabad: A two-judge Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili extended the time for the government to inform about the steps taken by the Collector for the protection of Musi River and other water bodies in the seven districts under HMDA limits from encroachments. The […]

Hyderabad: A two-judge Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili extended the time for the government to inform about the steps taken by the Collector for the protection of Musi River and other water bodies in the seven districts under HMDA limits from encroachments.

The Bench was dealing with a PIL taken up based on a news item published in the newspaper. Even after six years, of the 3,000 total lakes and water bodies, boundaries were notified for only 225 lakes, which amounts to less than 10 per cent, the report said. The report further stated that Irrigation and Revenue Department reports on survey numbers and extent of lakes do not match resulting in the water bodies being encroached upon. It further said that hundreds of colonies have come up at Ramannakunta, Bandlaguda Cheruvu near Nagole, Chinna Cheruvu at Ramanthapur, Malka Cheruvu, Malkaram Cheruvu,Shamirpet tank, Nalla Cheruvu, Nallgandla Cheruvu, Gosai Kunta and Errakunta, over the past decade.

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Revival of Hill Fort palace
The Bench posted a PIL filed by Hyderabad Heritage Trust to Monday for filing a status report by the GHMC. The PIL was filed challenging the inaction of the civic authorities in not taking up the revival of Hill Fort palace which is a notified heritage monument or allowing the petitioner to carry out the same at his expense. The Bench directed the Commissioner GHMC to appear on the last hearing. It was informed to the court on behalf of the GHMC that a meeting was conducted as per which further steps will be taken. The Hill Fort Palace once housed the famous Ritz hotel.

Trustees for temples
The Bench granted four weeks time to file counter to the Principal Secretary, Endowments, Hyderabad and the other respondents in a PIL filed by Nelluri Basaveswara Rao challenging the non-consideration of his representation for removal of ineligible hereditary or founder trustees for the temples of the Endowment Department contrary to the provisions of Hindu Charitable Trusts and Endowments Act and the decisions of the Supreme Court. He also sought directions to the State authorities to remove all the ineligible founder or hereditary trustees who were appointed to the Board of Trustees of the temples under the control of the Endowments Department contrary to the provisions.

Imposes costs on ex-sarpanch
While dismissing a review petition, the Bench imposed costs of Rs 50,000 on the ex-Sarpanch of Mansaplly village. Vettela Mahesh Yadav, ex- Sarpanch sought review of his PIL which was dismissed earlier by the Bench. The petitioner filed a PIL challenging the inaction of State authorities and HMDA in recovering government lands in Mansapally. The Bench observed that there was civil litigation filed in this regard and a criminal case was pending against the cousin of the petitioner. Hence, the earlier orders do not merit any review as the PIL was a veiled attempt to canvass personal cause. The Bench had earlier imposed costs of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner for filing vexatious PIL.

Notice to CWC
Justice Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court issued notice to the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in a case where a child whose parents are known is being retained by the CWC. Mahesh Kumar (name changed) filed a writ petition complaining that he is a father of a two-month-old child. Two years after the marriage, his wife delivered a baby and deserted him. He further complained that the child was handed over to the CWC. The petitioner contended that the child was for adoption and the same did not apply to the case where the father was alive. The court directed the official respondents to file a response within 2 weeks.

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