Land grab case: Telangana HC directs Wakf Board to file fresh report

Earlier, the court directed the District Collector and Chief Executive Officer, Wakf Board, to take adequate measures to protect the graveyard

Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy enlarged time to Wakf Board and directed filing of a fresh report on alleged encroachment of Daira Mir Momin Graveyard at Sultan Shahi, Hyderabad. The panel was hearing a PIL complaining of inaction in this regard by the authorities.

Earlier, the court directed the District Collector and Chief Executive Officer, Wakf Board, to take adequate measures to protect the graveyard. As per the earlier direction, the Wakf Board filed a status report stating that after conducting survey, notices were issued to alleged encroachers. Standing counsel representing the Wakf Board requested further time for taking action against the encroachers. The panel directed the Wakf Board to file fresh status report regarding steps taken by them and adjourned the matter.

Plea on lockdown: Hearing adjourned

Justice K Lakshman of Telangana High Court on Thursday adjourned a batch of writ petitions relating to relaxation of lockdown restrictions for advocates and para-legal staff to June 24. The court while directing the State government to file counters in the writ petitions took note of the fact that the entire issue may become academic if the Cabinet decides to call off the lockdown.

Srikant Reddy, counsel for the State, informed the court that pursuant to interim orders of the court, advocates were not being stopped on production of identity cards and the lockdown restrictions were in place till June 19.

NIA told to file report

Justice K Lakshman directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Hyderabad, to file a detailed report on how a digital document can be compared to that of a physical document. The judge was dealing with a petition filed by two practising advocates, N Krishna and M Sandeep, to quash criminal prosecution launched against the petitioners under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The petitioners were linked to Maoist party. The judge will continue to hear the matter on Tuesday.

‘Any inquiry will be preceded by notice’

Justice T Amarnath Goud of Telangana High Court on Thursday took on record a writ petition questioning the inclusion of certain lands in the purview of inquiry by the Committee of IAS Officers on Devaryamjal lands. According to the petitioner Sada Kanitha, the Committee had become a ruse to enter open private lands belonging to the petitioner. K Pradeep Reddy pointed out that the lands in question were not enlisted under the Endowments Act and therefore should by logic be excluded from the scope of inquiry.

Justice Amarnath Goud, while ordering notice to the government to respond, pointed out that the present stage of the matter only involved constitution and inquiry. It did not reflect any proceedings to evict the petitioner. Any entry into the land even for a prima facie inquiry would be preceded by a notice, the judge clarified. The High Court questioned if conducting an investigation to identify the temple lands would be difficult. The court clarified that it was the responsibility of the committee to investigate and submit a report. .

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