Telangana HC Halts Construction at Jubilee Hills Public School Over Lease Dispute

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has passed an interim order directing status quo in respect to ongoing construction activity at the Jubilee Hills Public School premises. The Jubilee Hills Cooperative House Building Society had approached the court after placing on record that the lease period with the school had expired in 2017 and was not extended thereafter.

In addition, the petitioner said, no valid no-objection certificate or subsisting lease agreement existed in favour of the Jubilee Hills Educational Society, which was running the school. Objections were submitted before the GHMC prior to the grant of permission for construction for the school. After hearing the matter, the High Court directed that status quo be maintained pending further proceedings.

Following the order, Ravindranath Bollineni, president of Jubilee Hills Cooperative House Building Society, in a press release stated that the order safeguarded the society’s rights and reinforced the principle that development within a society’s jurisdiction must strictly comply with lawful procedures and required permissions.

The managing committee of the housing society reiterated that every action taken was solely for the protection of society property, legal compliance, and the collective interest of members. Society president Bollineni also stated that the society remained committed to protecting its institutional integrity and would continue to pursue lawful remedies whenever required.

The grievance of the Jubilee Hills Cooperative House Building Society, represented by counsel V. Hari Haran, was that though there was no effective subsisting lease in favour of Jubilee Hills Educational Society and despite objections raised, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) had given it permission for the construction of three additional floors over the existing leased premises contrary to Section 429 (1) (aa) of the GHMC Act, 1995. The housing society contended that the permission granted by the GHMC was liable to be suspended as Jubilee Hills Educational Society was proceeding with the construction in a brisk manner.

M. Arun Kumar, standing counsel for the GHMC, submitted that the corporation had granted permission as per GO Ms. 168 MA, dated April 7, 2012, after verifying the documents and requested time to get instructions.

The educational society had taken land admeasuring 6.02 acres, equivalent to 29,282 square yards, in Ward No. 8, Block 2 of Jubilee Hills on lease from the society through a lease deed dated August 21, 1987, for 30 years.