Telangana High Court directs HYDRAA to remove signboard from private plot within 24 hours

The Telangana High Court directed HYDRAA to remove within 24 hours a signboard erected on a private plot in Saheb Nagar Kalan and restrained authorities from interfering with the owners' possession without following due process of law.

Legal Correspondent

 

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Hyderabad: Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court directed HYDRAA to remove within 24 hours a signboard erected on a private plot in Saheb Nagar Kalan and restrained the authorities from interfering with the petitioners’ possession without following due process of law.

The writ petition was filed by T. Jhansi Rani and T. Ajay alleging that HYDRAA had illegally erected a signboard on their Plot No.40, admeasuring 160 square yards in Survey No.68 of Saheb Nagar Kalan Village, Hayathnagar Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, despite an earlier order of the High Court setting aside the revocation of their building permission and the demolition notice issued against them. The petitioners sought a direction restraining HYDRAA from interfering with their peaceful possession and enjoyment of the property.

Senior Counsel V. Hari Haran, appearing for the petitioners, contended that HYDRAA had erected the board without issuing any notice or conducting any enquiry to establish that the petitioners had encroached upon public land. Counsel submitted that the construction was raised strictly in accordance with the sanctioned building plan and that the agency’s action was in complete disregard of the earlier common order passed by the High Court.

On behalf of HYDRAA, Standing Counsel sought time to obtain instructions. The Court, however, noted that while disposing of the earlier writ petitions on March 2, it had set aside the revocation of the building permission and the demolition notice, while leaving it open to the authorities to initiate fresh action strictly in accordance with law if any encroachment on public land was found. Prima facie finding HYDRAA’s action in erecting the signboard contrary to the earlier order of the High Court, Justice Vijaysen Reddy directed the agency to remove the board within 24 hours from the receipt of the order.

The Court further directed GHMC, its Deputy Commissioner and HYDRAA not to interfere with the petitioners’ possession and enjoyment of the property without following due process of law. The matter has been posted to August 11 for further hearing.