Telangana HC Directs Fatima Owaisi Campus to Put Up Notices Warning Students of Pending FTL Case
The court said that the academic year which is to start in June would be affected by its orders. Students pursuing their academics in the constructions allegedly made in the water body would be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
The Telangana High Court on Monday ordered that student admissions made into the Barrister Fatima Owaisi Educational Campus KG-PG school and college would be subject to the outcome of a writ petition which complained of the inaction of authorities in respect to alleged illegal construction within the full tank level of Salkam Cheruvu. The institution is owned and managed by the Salar-e-Millat Educational Trust, chaired by MIM Assembly floor leader Akbaruddin Owasi.
Justice N.V Shravan Kumar said the final notification for the full tank level of the lake should be issued within two weeks.
The court said that the academic year which is to start in June would be affected by its orders. Students pursuing their academics in the constructions allegedly made in the water body would be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
The court said students and parents should take note of the pending writ petition and that college authorities should also put up information regarding the pendency of the writ petition on their notice boards. Students and parents may take a decision as to their continuance in the college at their own risk and shall not claim any equities, the court said. It also directed the institutions to not make any constructions in the Salkam Cheruvu area.
The court issued notices to the educational group, HYDRAA, HMDA, GHMC and the state government including the education department in the writ petition and sought their response on the claims of encroachment and official inaction. Justice Shravan Kumar questioned the authorities on the delay in issuing the final notification of FTL of the lake. “Why are you taking almost 10 years for final notification, thought the preliminary notifications was issued in 2016,” he said.
The judge directed the authorities to reply to whether or not the HMDA and the GHMC were not aware about the lake FTL before giving the permissions to the constructions.
The writ petition was filed by advocate Vijay Gopal complained to the court that HYDRAA was not taking his grievance or representations about the alleged illegal construction. Salkam Cheruvu, he said, was identified as HMDA Lake ID: 4001/1, situated in Bandlaguda Kalsa. The petitioner contended that despite multiple complaints being lodged between August and September 2024 through online platforms and written representations, HYDRAA, constituted specifically to protect water bodies, had taken no action.
The petitioner argued that the construction fell within the notified FTL and buffer zone of the lake, referencing HMDA’s preliminary notification dated December 13, 2016 . Vijay Gopal argued that HYDRAA had been demolishing buildings and constructions and taking possession of land based on complaints by citizens. However, it was not taking action against the encroachments or illegal constructions made by the educational society.
The petitioner sought directions to halt academic activities in the institution from the upcoming academic year to prevent hardship to students, and to ensure that no further environmental damage occurs due to ongoing or completed constructions within the lake and its buffer zone.