Hyderabad High Court directs GHMC to give 2 weeks' notice to illegal encroachers

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday directed the GHMC to give two weeks’ time to alleged illegal occupants and encroachers of nalas and tank beds in the city and to provide explanations and then pass orders disclosing the reasons for the demolitions.

Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao, while granting interim orders in another batch of petitions by aggrieved parties challenging the action of GHMC demolishing their structures, made it clear that the Telangana government had to balance between removal of illegal encroachments on nalas and tank beds in the city and protecting citizens from arbitrary whimsical actions of officials.

After hearing advocate general of Telangana Mr K. Ramakrishna Reddy, who contended that there was a need to remove the encroachments forthwith, the judge said that the court lauded the intention of the state to remove the illegal encroachments.

When the AG said officers will follow the law and would not act arbitrarily and that demolitions would be carried out division-wise but expeditiously, the judge said he would pass a general order which would be applicable not only to petitioners but also to similarly-placed persons.