Telangana High Court allows State, Centre three weeks to file counters on plea against GHMC split

The Telangana High Court heard a plea challenging the State government’s decision to split GHMC into three municipal corporations, citing violations of census laws. The court granted time for counter affidavits and posted the matter for March 25

Hyderabad: A Division Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin on Thursday heard a writ petition filed by Daram Guruva Reddy challenging the State government’s decision to split the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) into three separate municipal corporations — GHMC, Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation and Cyberabad Municipal Corporation.

The petitioner questioned GO Ms No. 55 dated February 11, contending that the notification restructuring the municipal corporation was issued in violation of the provisions of the Census Act, 1948 and the Census Rules, 1990, particularly in view of the ongoing Census-2027 exercise. Counsel for the petitioner referred to notifications issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs fixing March 1, 2027 as the reference date for Census-2027 and prescribing house-listing operations between April 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026, and argued that jurisdictional changes could not be undertaken during the census process.

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Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Union of India and Advocate General representing the State sought time to obtain instructions and file counter affidavits. Granting the request, the Bench allowed three weeks’ time to the respondents to file counters and one week thereafter for the petitioner to file a reply affidavit. The matter has been posted for further hearing on March 25.