Telangana HC upholds prohibition on disputed lands in Maheshwaram

Telangana High Court dismisses applications by senior IAS, IPS officers, and EIPL Constructions seeking to lift restrictions on disputed lands in Maheshwaram. It upholds April order placing lands on the prohibited list; main writ petition to proceed

Hyderabad: Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Friday dismissed a batch of interim applications filed by several senior IAS and IPS officers, along with EIPL Constructions Company, who sought to lift the orders placing certain disputed lands in Nagaram village of Maheshwaram mandal, Rangareddy district, on the prohibited list.

The lands in question, situated in Survey Nos. 181, 182, 194, and 195, are alleged to be Bhoodan or government lands. With this order, the court reaffirmed its earlier direction issued on April 24, which directed the authorities to include these lands in the prohibited list and to ensure that no transactions or construction activities are undertaken. The court also clarified that the main writ petition would continue to be heard on merits.

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The proceedings stem from a writ petition filed by Birla Mallesh, a resident of Ameerpet village in Maheshwaram mandal, who alleged large-scale manipulation of revenue records relating to the said lands. He contended that the lands classified as Bhoodan or government lands were fraudulently converted into private holdings through forged documents and that pattadar passbooks were issued in the names of several influential individuals, including IAS and IPS officers from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and their benamis.

Taking note of these allegations, Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy, on April 4, had issued interim orders directing that the disputed lands be placed on the prohibited list to prevent further alienation or development.

Subsequently, multiple applications were filed by the affected officers and EIPL Constructions seeking to vacate the interim orders. After detailed hearing, Justice K Lakshman rejected the applications on Friday, upholding the earlier directions, and adjourned the main writ petition filed by Birla Mallesh for further hearing.