Telangana HC grants interim relief to landowners in Musi Riverfront acquisition case

The Telangana High Court has granted interim protection to landowners challenging the acquisition of their lands for the Musi Riverfront Development Project. Justice K. Sarath directed the State authorities not to dispossess the petitioners until the next hearing and asked the government and its agencies to file counter affidavits within two weeks.

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice K. Sarath of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday granted interim protection to landowners who challenged the acquisition of their properties for the Musi Riverfront Development Project and directed the State authorities not to dispossess them until the next hearing. The petition was filed by I. Prabhakar Reddy, Atibhumi Holdings Private Limited, Sahasra Infra Private Limited and S.C. Mohan Reddy, challenging a series of proceedings initiated by the State Government for the acquisition of their lands measuring Ac.9-08¾ guntas in Survey Nos. 27, 28, 31 and 32 of Dargah Khaleej (Khaliz) Khan Village, Gandipet Mandal, Ranga Reddy District.

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The petitioners questioned G.O.Rt. No.921, dated December 16, 2025, through which exemption under Section 10A of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 was granted to the Musi Riverfront Development Project and its related projects.

The petitioners contended that the proceedings were illegal, arbitrary and without authority of law, and violated their constitutional rights. After hearing the matter, Justice K. Sarath directed the respondents, including the State Government, the District Collector, Ranga Reddy, the Revenue Divisional Officer and Land Acquisition Officer, and the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited, to file their counter affidavits within two weeks. The Court further directed the authorities not to dispossess the petitioners from the subject lands until the next date of hearing.