Rajanna-Sircilla woman finally gets house site after nine-year struggle

Vanapatla Kavitha from Anupuram village secured rehabilitation under the MMR project after nine years of struggle. Despite court orders and initial resistance from officials, she was allotted two guntas of land. The case highlighted administrative delays and legal defiance

Rajananna-Sircilla: After nine years of relentless struggle, Vanapatla Kavitha from Anupuram village has finally secured justice in her fight for rehabilitation under the Mid Manair Reservoir (MMR) project.

Kavitha, who lost her home during MMR construction, had received Rs 6 lakh as compensation under the Relief and Rehabilitation package. However, she was denied land for building a house after villagers objected, claiming she was ineligible as she had moved away following her marriage. Refusing to give up, Kavitha continued her pursuit, arguing that having received compensation, she was entitled to a house site as well. After years of repeated representations to district officials yielded nothing, she moved the High Court in 2016 seeking justice.

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In 2023, the court ruled in her favour, directing the district administration to provide her rehabilitation benefits. But instead of implementing the order, then District Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha allegedly instructed the Vemulawada RDO to register a criminal case against her, accusing her of misleading the court to obtain the order. An FIR was filed, prompting Kavitha to approach the High Court again. Taking a serious view of the Collector’s defiance, the court summoned him on April 2 this year. When he failed to appear in the morning, the judge warned that he would be sent to jail if he did not attend in the afternoon.

When Jha finally appeared, the court questioned how he could term a High Court judgment as false and file a criminal case against the petitioner. The judge warned him of contempt proceedings if he failed to comply. Despite the warning, Kavitha’s rehabilitation was delayed. It was only after the court’s fresh direction on September 23 that she was allotted two guntas of land in the village.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Kavitha said she was elated after years of struggle. “Officials denied me land based on baseless objections, but finally justice prevailed,” she said.

Incidentally, Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha was transferred soon after the court pulled him up for his handling of the case.